Known as “gold farming”, the process of selling in-game items for real money online has been a popular past-time or full-time job for many over the years. People would list characters, items, or full accounts on eBay for big bucks.

Just recently eBay has declared that all virtual items will be de-listed from auction, and a ban across these sales. The ban is due to “legal complexities” and “the health of the marketplace”. Everything from WoW gold, to Everquest items is being de-listed. After all, in most games selling property for real money is a breach of the terms of service which the player agrees to. It would seem that only one well-known game has been exempt from this ban, known as Second Life. The exemption comes from a hazy line as to whether Second Life can actually be classified as a game.

Creators of Second Life Linden Lab are happy about it, but this ban may significantly hurt or even shut down many farming operations around the globe.