Legal Question in Technology Law in Illinois
I logged into a users account on an online PC game (in the games terms of use it states that a users account is property of the company that owns the game) and I changed his password. However, I did give him back all of the information that I changed after 24 hours. He has decided to file a identity theft complaint to the FBI on me. Is he in the right or in the wrong? I did not steal or even regard ANY of the information on his account, all I did was change his password and return his account after 24 hours.
1 Answer from Attorneys
He's probably right. Imagine if you entered his apartment and changed the lock, but the next day you left and gave him the new key. You would be a criminal even though you put a stop to your crime after a single day.
Of course, taking over somebody's home would be a lot more serious than taking over a gaming account. The authorities (at both the state and federal levels) may decide not to bother over something this minor. But the decision is theirs to make.
One factor in their decision will be how hard it would be to prove their case. The more you say about it -- to anyone but your own potential attorneys -- the easier their job will be. So your best strategy is probably just to stop talking about this.
Good luck.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
