Inmate sues Blizzard for mind theft

by Justin McElroy { Nov 6th 2008 at 11:30AM }

Finally, someone is making Blizzard pay for its crimes. South Carolina inmate Jonathan Lee Riches sues a lot of people, but we think he's really on to something with this new suit, which he, apparently, has filed in conjunction with Gordon Gekko. It's impressive not only because Gekko is fictional, but because he rarely takes sides in messy legal squabbles. (Seriously, the guy is Switzerland ... and fictional.)

You can read the full text right here, but, in short, Riches says that World of Warcraft "caused Riches mind to live in a virtual universe, where Riches explored the landscape committing identity theft and fighting cybermonster rival hacker gangs. Riches was addicted to video games and lost touch with reality because of defendants."

Shame on you, Blizzard. SHAME. It's not bad enough you make the guy lose touch with reality (you know, the reality of being in prison), but you have to pit him against rival hacker gangs? Is nothing sacred?

[Via /.]

Tags: blizzard, world-of-warcraft, wow

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jakka @ Nov 6th 2008 11:36AM

Is this even newsworthy? This guy is just a random retard that sues everything...

Reuben @ Nov 6th 2008 11:36AM

That's alright, if Gekko is involved than I'm sure Charlie Sheen will show up to put an end to his shenanigans.

343 Guilty Fart @ Nov 6th 2008 12:49PM

Wait, Gordon Gekko is Switzerland?? Do you mean he's IN Switzerland, or are you saying that he is, indeed, Switzerland?

Wesley @ Nov 6th 2008 2:47PM

This is hilarious, I wonder if Riches has a case.

@343: You're joking, right? They mean Gekko is Switzerland in the fact that they're almost completely neutral in all global affairs, as Gekko is in most legal matters.

ExMcCloud @ Nov 6th 2008 11:38AM

Man should we even comment on this?................................Damn

Kamizar @ Nov 6th 2008 11:38AM

Wow, it's people like this that let you know the American prison system is working...

iFester @ Nov 6th 2008 11:43AM

Too bad he no longer is able to access his character account in jail. Otherwise we could kill his character and see if the guy will sue us for virtual murder.

Jack @ Nov 6th 2008 1:00PM

Ugh, the sad part with some good behavior he WILL be able to log on.

I hate America's prison system.

hey_big_dck psn:fuliano626 @ Nov 6th 2008 11:47AM

huh they should pay him fake virtual money to shut him up.

H Choi @ Nov 6th 2008 11:49AM

Is this the same idiot that tried to sue Mike Vick for a trillion dollars?

Mark C @ Nov 6th 2008 1:06PM

Yep, the same.

Miguel @ Nov 6th 2008 11:50AM

unbelievable

arkanaloth @ Nov 6th 2008 11:59AM

were I the judge... I'd have to pass down a ruling shaming blizzard for this terrible.. terrible act, and force them to cancel his account immediately and pay him in a sum of no more than one-red-cent.

BlaqueBeird @ Nov 6th 2008 3:22PM

Make sure it's not a new one, or he'll sue for being distracted from reality by it's beauty.

Ooh shiny!

Kyle @ Nov 6th 2008 12:00PM

lolwut?

EshuElegbara @ Nov 6th 2008 12:07PM

This is terrible. I can't believe everyone's just taking this in stride! I mean, Blizzard stole the man's mind! Forced him to thieve identities and war against cybermonster hackers?! Is there no end to what Blizzard will do? Can we just sit back and allow them to hurt people over and over again? Rise up! Rise up against the evils that are...

oh, he's batshit crazy?

... nevermind....

vidGuy @ Nov 6th 2008 12:09PM

"has filed in conjunction with Gordon Gekko"

Not exactly. Next to Riches name is "d/b/a" which means "doing business as." I imagine it refers to Riches online screenname, which might, in fact, be Gordon Gekko.

I would like to see what the court has to say about the assertion that Riches' "mind became a living video game." Trying proving that one.

Mr Khan @ Nov 6th 2008 12:15PM

I haven't experienced so much lulz on a wiki page in some time

good show

dark_inchworm @ Nov 6th 2008 12:23PM

Operation: Mindcrime.

iFester @ Nov 6th 2008 1:10PM

That's why he's suing. He suddenly woke in his cell.

"I remember now."

rask @ Nov 6th 2008 12:26PM

Where do I sign up to be part of a Cybermonster Rival Hacker gang?

Dr. Katz @ Nov 6th 2008 12:26PM

This guy is the new poster child for swift executions.

Smurfy @ Nov 6th 2008 12:28PM

HAHAHAHA On that guy's Wikipage it says "His projected release date is March 23, 2012."

Jouten @ Nov 6th 2008 1:00PM

Just in time to run for president!

dark_inchworm @ Nov 6th 2008 2:04PM

Hey, that's the lead programmer on Duke Nukem Forever, lololol.

michas_pi @ Nov 6th 2008 12:42PM

Quick, someone please tell me he's joking before my head explodes from rage.

Blazur @ Nov 6th 2008 12:46PM

Gosh, it's a good thing this man was addicted to WoW and not GTA IV. Otherwise Jack Thompson would have him on speed dial...

Duke @ Nov 6th 2008 12:59PM

Yeah but there is this gem on his wiki page about his suit against Rockstar for GTA4:

He said because of the game "I face imminent danger from violent inmates who played Grand Theft Auto who will knock me out and take my gold Jesus cross."

That is pure comedy right there.

AwesomeTown @ Nov 6th 2008 12:47PM

Hilarious. Personally, I can't get enough of this guy. Makes me laugh every time. Keep those suits coming!

wiredknight @ Nov 6th 2008 1:04PM

Next he'll try suing big tobacco for his nicotine addiction.

ObiBen @ Nov 6th 2008 1:03PM

Sounds like this guy need a cell with padded walls and a straight jacket.

Zach S @ Nov 6th 2008 1:07PM

Wow, this guy is totally obnoxious...

but I guess that's cool, since he wrote this: "I face imminent danger from violent inmates who played Grand Theft Auto who will knock me out and take my gold Jesus cross." It's so true, right? Grand Theft Auto isn't based on reality, rather REALITY IS BASED ON GRAND THEFT AUTO!!!