Talk:Game Updates/@comment-99.6.46.60-20120528155641/@comment-4756055-20120528181856

I agree with you that morally those who use jailbroken devices to get "free" gems are stealing. We see it as stealing because BFS is losing income to which it is legally entitled.

The problem with prosecuting the thieves is that current U.S. does not view this type of activity as theft. The law states that stealing means taking physical possession of something and depriving the owner of its use. Obtaining digital content without paying for doesn't meet either of those criteria. Many digital thefts have been prosecuted using copyright law, but that wouldn't apply in this case. Until the laws are updated to deal with the theft of digital content, prosecution for this sort of crime is going to be very difficult in the U.S.

BFS could cancel the accounts of the thieves, but they could just come back under different Game Center accounts. To me, the best thing to do is keep telling the kids that it is stealing and that it is the wrong thing to do, no matter how easy it seems.