IGE Busted By Florida AG

Posted by Stropp on December 23, 2007

Well, not quite busted. But it looks like they are the subject of a pretty serious investigation by the Florida AG in relation to.

Unfair methods of competition, unconscionable acts or practices, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct or trade of any commerce…

Wired and Massively are both reporting that the Florida Attorney General has issued a subpoena (pdf) to the gold selling company IGE. The subpoena directs IGE to produce all documents and evidence related to the distribution, marketing, promotion, pricing or sale of World of Warcraft gold. In fact, it looks like the Florida AG is going to be looking into all aspects of IGEs business, including the role of Affinity Media.

Now, I’m not really sure, but isn’t Affinity Media the arm of IGE that controls all of the gaming websites that IGE have bought up? I think these include big sites like Allakhazam and World of Warcraft specific sites like Wowhead and Thottbot, which are part of the ZAM Network which is owned by Affinity Media.

IGE has in the past been accused of a lot of fairly naughty behaviour. Some of the things I’ve read about how they became so big in the gold selling business could have been scripted into a telemovie about the life and times of a Mafia boss. Threats and intimidation, rolling over competitors, all appear to be a part of the M.O of IGE, at least according to what’s been written about them. We all know, or should know, the risks of dealing with gold sellers. This subpoena should be reinforcing that.

For one thing, it also appears that the AG is going to be examining credit card records. Does that mean that the records of ordinary WoW players who have bought gold are going to be given to the goverment? Will these records somehow end up in Blizzards hands? What action will Blizzard take against these players if they do find out which players bought gold?

Some interesting questions indeed.

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