Roblox Takes Legal Action Against Third-Party Marketplace PlayerAuctions for Rule Violations
By Roblox Corp. has initiated a lawsuit against PlayerAuctions, an external website that offers virtual items for various games.
The company is holding the marketplace accountable for “violating [our] rights, disrupting the digital economy, and interfering with contractual agreements.” It aims to cease the trading and selling of virtual Roblox items on the platform, which it claims PlayerAuctions has “knowingly” engaged in despite numerous cease-and-desist notices.
The creator of Farmville, Zynga, previously took legal action against PlayerAuctions in 2010 on similar grounds. According to CBS News, a settlement was reached in the following year for an undisclosed amount, and games from Zynga have not appeared on PlayerAuctions since.
PlayerAuctions’ Roblox marketplace gray areas
As Polygon points out, PlayerAuctions’ Roblox marketplace includes boosting services (paying someone to play under your account) and seeking out rare accounts or in-game pets for the Adopt Me game. While third-party marketplaces are technically not illegal, players using them may inadvertently breach a game’s user agreements—in fact, the developer estimates that 12-15 percent of players have been suspended or banned for unknowingly violating rules through the use of sites like PlayerAuctions.
Given that younger players comprise such a crucial segment of Roblox, this aspect of PlayerAuctions is worsening the company’s challenges in enhancing child safety on its platform.
Roblox Corp.’s lawsuit also notes that the site features its trademarks, which “undermine Roblox’s legitimate business operations, confuse its users, and impair [our] ability to control the pricing and distribution of our game’s digital goods.” The developer claims that 8-10 percent of players appealing their suspensions for real-money trading directly referenced PlayerAuctions.
A representative from Roblox Corp. told Polygon it would “remain vigilant to combat unauthorized use of our platform and hold accountable those responsible for their actions.” The company has also filed for an injunction to prevent PlayerAuctions from using its trademarks while the lawsuit is ongoing.
The complete lawsuit is available here.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to numerous websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. Besides Game Developer, his work can also be found at io9 on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he’s had, as the answer may be more than he’s willing to admit.