Glider (bot)

Infobox Software
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author = Michael DonnellyMDY Industries, LLC v. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. et al, [http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/arizona/azdce/2:2006cv02555/322017/82/ Order] (District of Arizona 2008).]
developer = MDY Industries, LLC
released = June 2005
latest release version = 1.6.8cite web|url=http://www.mmoglider.com/Download.aspx|title=Download Glider|accessdate=2008-08-04]
latest release date = July 2008 [cite web|url=http://vforums.mmoglider.com/showthread.php?t=164185|title=Glider 1.6.8 release.|date=2008-07-21|accessdate=2008-08-04]
latest preview version =
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programming language =
operating system = Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vistacite web|url=http://www.mmoglider.com/FAQ.aspx|title=Frequently Asked Questions about Glider|date=2008-01-04|accessdate=2008-08-04]
platform = .NET 2.0
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genre = Internet bot
license = Shareware (US$25)cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12848|title=Blizzard, Vivendi File Suit Against WoW Bot Creator|last=Boyer|first=Brandon|date=February 22, 2007|work=Gamasutra|accessdate=2008-08-11]
website = [http://www.mmoglider.com mmoglider.com]

Glider is a bot which interoperates with the World of Warcraft. [cite journal|last=Lastowka |first=Greg|coauthors=Dougherty|date=Candidus|title=Copyright Issues in Virtual Economies |journal=E-Commerce & Policy|volume=9|issue=5|url=http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1092285|accessdate=2008-08-11] As of 2008, it has sold approximately 100,000 copies.

Glider is meant to automate and simplify actions by the user of the software within the World of Warcraft environment through the use of extensive scripting. While the makers of the software assert that the software is meant to overcome design flaws in the World of Warcraft environment, Blizzard contended in a 2006 United States federal lawsuit that the program was designed for users of to circumvent their terms of service.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7314353.stm|title=Legal battle over Warcraft 'bot'|date=March 26, 2008|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-08-11] In July 2008, the court entered summary judgment holding Glider's creators liable for tortious interference and copyright infringement, based, in part, upon the legal premise that users of the World of Warcraft client software are licensees rather than owners of their copy of software.

Public Knowledge, a public interest group which filed an amicus brief in the case, [MDY Industries, LLC v. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. et al, [http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/arizona/azdce/2:2006cv02555/322017/75/ Amicus curiae brief of Public Knowledge in support of neither party on cross-motions for summary judgment] (District of Arizona 2008).] criticized the decision, saying it makes the loading into memory of legally obtained software an act of copyright infringement subject to high statutory penalties, if the user has violated the software's license agreement in any way. [cite web|url=http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1657|title=Fine Print Scarier Than Ever: District Court Rules Against MDY in Glider Case|last=Siy|first=Sherwin|date=2008-07-15|accessdate=2008-08-04] The court did not hold this view and found that Glider infringed upon Blizzard's intellectual property by making an illicit copy of the World of Warcraft client in order to avoid Blizzard's anti-cheating software, Warden. In finding this, the court agreed with Blizzard that World of Warcraft is licensed, not sold.cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080507-blizzard-attempt-to-kill-wow-bot-bad-news-for-copyright-law.html|title=Blizzard attempt to kill WoW bot bad news for copyright law|last=Kuchera|first=Ben|date=May 07, 2008|work=Ars Technica|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Following the judgment, Blizzard has pressed to enjoin MDY from distributing Glider freely as free software. [cite web|url=http://virtuallyblind.com/2008/07/29/blizzard-seeks-permanent-injunction/|title=Blizzard Seeks Permanent Injunction Against MDY, Asks Court to Prohibit Making Glider Open Source|last=Duranske|first=Benjamin|date=July 29, 2008|work=Virtually Blind|accessdate=2008-08-16] MDY plans to appeal the judgment in its entirety. [cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/virtualworlds/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209100284|title=Blizzard Wins Big Legal Victory Upholding Software License Rules |last=Claburn|first=Thomas|date=July 16, 2008|work=Information Week|accessdate=2008-08-16]

References