The BBC recently reported that an IT professional is facing a lengthy jail sentence after pleading guilty to stealing millions of dollars worth of online currency. The defendant was apparently able to hack into the system of popular online gaming firm Zynga, and take about $12 million worth of poker chips. The case is notable in that the court appears to have recognized the value, as property, of virtual currency. Undoubtedly, this will be a developing area of law as more companies begin transacting in similar forms of virtual currency.

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