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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Celebrities Debate Virtual Ownership on Taiwanese Game Show

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Taiwanese celebrities appeared on a public television quiz show hosted by Harlem Yu.
  • The episode featured a discussion about the legal ownership of in-game items in online games.
  • The contestants debated whether players truly own their virtual assets or if ownership lies with the game companies.

Taiwanese celebrities recently gathered on the Public Television Service (PTS) quiz show "Truth Unveiled," hosted by Harlem Yu, for an episode that sparked a lively debate about virtual ownership. The guests included singer-actress Yu Tu, Junior Han, Aben Chen, singer Ya Ya, and boy band Ni!KA members Zi Chen and Yuan Xin.

I am 44 years old! This theme is so hurtful!

— Aben ChenAben Chen humorously reacted to being grouped with younger celebrities on the show, highlighting his age.

The central question posed to the contestants was whether characters and equipment in online games are legally considered the property of the player. Junior and Aben argued against player ownership, with Aben, 44, noting that game companies often cease service after many years, raising questions about the longevity of player-held assets. He also pointed out the lack of legal precedent for players claiming ownership and seeking compensation.

Are you sure it's three generations, not four?

— Yu TuYu Tu playfully questioned host Harlem Yu's categorization of the celebrity guests by generation.

Conversely, Yuan Xin argued that items purchased with real money should belong to the player. Yu Tu shared a personal anecdote about her husband's legal battle when a friend transferred his in-game equipment, resulting in a compensation of over NT$20,000, a significant sum during his high school years. She highlighted that e-sports can now generate income through virtual assets, making such compensation a serious matter.

I feel like this ownership belongs to the game company.

— Junior HanJunior Han expressed his initial view on the ownership of in-game assets.

Ultimately, the show's legal consultant, Sun Shao-fu, clarified that players only have the right to use game characters and equipment, or economic rights related to them, but not outright ownership. He explained that ownership is a right that can be asserted against anyone globally. The distinction became clear when game companies cease operations or shut down servers, revealing the difference between usage rights and true ownership. The contestants who answered correctly, Junior and Aben, were playfully teased by Yu for their perceived experience with the "entire game cycle."

Because many characters and equipment, you might play for 10 years, and then they start to stop providing services, so what then?

— Aben ChenAben Chen elaborated on his reasoning against player ownership, citing the potential cessation of game services.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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