Server hosting legal issue

[Alunn]

Hello, I would like an opinion from somebody experienced in this matter, who might be willing to share his knowledge. I've been considering to open a server for quite a while now, but I am not really familiar with the laws. Obviously, even if you provide a free service and even don't accept donations, Blizz might go after you.

Does anyone know a hosting way to avoid legal problems ? I know that Sweden has some strange laws, so I guess you could rent a host there and not get in trouble (piratebay is an example) ? If somebody could write a detailed reply, would be grateful!

[Maisteri]

Blizzard will only come after you if you mage large scale money which most server don't make.

Unless your server has 10k+ players and a bunch of donations then you might face some legal issues. And even then you will probably get a notice from blizzard to take down your server before they lawyer up.

[Axxaz]

Blizzard will only come after you if you mage large scale money which most server don't make.

Unless your server has 10k+ players and a bunch of donations then you might face some legal issues. And even then you will probably get a notice from blizzard to take down your server before they lawyer up.

So what about molten?

[stoneharry]

It's not legal, you can argue it either way but you'll be spending a lot of money in court fees for a very unlikely gain.

Worst that has ever happened is Blizzards sends you a cease & desist letter, and if you do not, you get taken to court. Happened to 1 server in the past, just as a publicity stunt if anything in my opinion since it cost them much more than they gained in legal fees.

There are thousands and thousands of private servers running, what makes you think that yours will be targeted and made an example of?

[Alunn]

Interesting replies, I think too that a "normal" server, which isn't a money making business shouldn't have problems, or would get a notice before any occurred at least.
Still, if anyone appears who knows any workarounds for "personal - safety" hosting, feedback welcome Thanks to the guys so far!

[Poglia]

I used to run a RP private server 4-5 years ago, and made around 700€ in donations. I had no legal issues at all.

[Found]

The only way you'll face legal issues is if you're completely ignorant and don't know what you're doing. The best way to avoid them is to just act like they'll never happen.

[Harambeqt]

DBC/Maps etc are blizzards shit that the illegal stuff.
And molten wow... well they host their servers in Russia or something, protected by the government.
No but blizzard can't touch you if you host in some random country.

[Fumi]

I once told a gm i had a private server and i was using to education (i told him i got an A) he congratzed me

[Alunn]

I once told a gm i had a private server and i was using to education (i told him i got an A) he congratzed me

I doubt they employees themselves care, they got hunderts of tickets in queue and just want to get it over with :P

Kinda good feedback, getting the picture of the replies that I wanted. Thank you!

[wowsc4p3]

You always run this risk. Just don't get greedy and you shouldn't get a C&D

[Cookie16]

If you don't make profit they don't care simple as, if you get to big and start making decent money from donations they will take notice.
But if a server would ever get that big is very rare and sometimes still wouldn't even get noticed, if you got shutdown on a small computer
run private server then you sir are the unluckiest person ever. =D

[LoveOne]

first thing first, wow popularity is mostly because they don't fight private servers, me and almost all my friends started on private servers and then moved to blizzard, and i think alot of ppls did that, let's look at rift for eg. someone started building an emulator and they got a letter from trion to stop working on it because they would face legal issues. in fact for me and i think alot of ppls private servers were like extended trials with endgame content.
Another thing i got to say is that they can see everything you've got in your wow folder (maby even more) once i got stuck ingame and a gm ran some sort of scan on my client long story short he told me that i should repair my client because i had some errors from logging on a private server with modified items. my point is that if they were against private servers they could send letters to all servers on topsites and just stop them w/o law suits. and even ban players for playing on private servers, but i don't think this ever happened. soo yeah you can run a private server w/o worrying

[stoneharry]

first thing first, wow popularity is mostly because they don't fight private servers, me and almost all my friends started on private servers and then moved to blizzard, and i think alot of ppls did that, let's look at rift for eg. someone started building an emulator and they got a letter from trion to stop working on it because they would face legal issues. in fact for me and i think alot of ppls private servers were like extended trials with endgame content.
Another thing i got to say is that they can see everything you've got in your wow folder (maby even more) once i got stuck ingame and a gm ran some sort of scan on my client long story short he told me that i should repair my client because i had some errors from logging on a private server with modified items. my point is that if they were against private servers they could send letters to all servers on topsites and just stop them w/o law suits. and even ban players for playing on private servers, but i don't think this ever happened. soo yeah you can run a private server w/o worrying

It will report logs and your cache folder. Your cache folder stores temporary data, which may have stuff included from a private server if you do not delete it. Logs will contain all the servers you have connected to / the details of everything around you when you crash, and such. Because of this you should delete your log and cache folders when you change between retail and private servers.

[Cookie16]

Logs will contain all the servers you have connected to / the details of everything around you when you crash, and such. Because of this you should delete your log and cache folders when you change between retail and private servers.

Well if you play a patch other then what retail is running then your not likely to connect to retail.
But your point still stands loud and clear Harry. =)

-- Cookie