MDY INDUSTRIES vs. BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT
A Primer

 If Blizzard bans me, ah well, time to go out and get another CD key and start it all over again, not like I lost a lot of hard work.
-WowGlider customer

The EULA will again be front and center as Blizzard and MDY prepare to square off in litigation that will seemingly have to address the state of play, the nature of MMORPGs, contracts, and intellectual property. In light of recent reports by WoWInsider (1) (2) that Blizzard has filed countersuit against Michael Donnelly, owner and founder of MDY Industries (maker of WoWGlider, popular but highly controversial automation software for World of Warcraft), I thought it would be a good opportunity to examine some of the compelling issues surrounding this case set to begin initial proceedings in Federal Court early this spring. Donnelly asserts that his business has in no way violated any rights owned by Blizzard who has in fact created “an actual controversy” through accusatory “threats and actions” (See claim).