A young man was charged with the removal of computer data in the form of virtual objects belonging to a specific game avatar. He acted to the detriment of another person, without authorization, with an Internet account in the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game – Metin2. According to the indictment he obtained access (login, password) to someone else’s account using a keylogger software. The charges were based on the provisions of Article 287 § 1 of the Criminal Code – CRC – (in Polish: Kodeks Karny) of 6 June 1997, published in Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw) No 88, item 553, with subsequent amendments.

Article 287. § 1. Whoever, in order to gain material benefits, affects automatic processing or transmitting information, or changes or deletes record or introduces a new record on an electronic information carrier, without being authorised to do so,
shall be subject to the penalty of deprivation of liberty for a term of between 3 months and 5 years.
§ 2. In the event that the act is of a lesser significance, the perpetrator shall be subject to a fine, the penalty of restriction of liberty or the penalty of deprivation of liberty for up to one year.
§ 3. If the fraud has been committed to the detriment of a next of kin, the prosecution shall occur on a motion of the injured person.

The Regional Court in Sławno in its judgment of 19 August 2010, case file II K 127/10 found him guilty of committing the offense, and sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment, suspended for a three-year period of probation. The court also ordered him to pay a fine up to 20 daily rates (10 PLN for a rate, a total of 200 PLN) and placed under supervision by a probation guardian.