Hi,

Recent, I found that there are people playing games on private
networks that resembles LAN created using VPN and this issue was
discuss in one of the forums that I visited. Since the VPN itself is
legal technology, but with VPN, games played on LAN-like networks that
build on top of the Internet somehow confused me about the legal
issues which is included in Blizzard's website.

"Does Blizzard Entertainment® allow or support other Battle.net® like
or emulation servers? Can I host one of these rogue servers?

No. Except as set forth in the next paragraph, Blizzard Entertainment®
does not support or condone network play of its games anywhere but
Battle.net®. Specifically, you may not host or provide matchmaking
services for any of our games or emulate or redirect the communication
protocols used by Blizzard Entertainment® in the network feature of
its games, through protocol emulation, tunneling, modifying or adding
components to the game(s), use of a utility program or any other
techniques now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose
including, but not limited to network play over the Internet, network
play utilizing commercial or non-commercial gaming networks or as part
of content aggregation networks without the prior written consent of
Blizzard Entertainment®. "

- taken from http://www.blizzard.com/legalfaq.shtml

Now with that, perhaps Blizzard can provide some guidelines and give
me some clearer explanation of whether the senario I provide above
legal or not.

Regards,
da3`shou3

Hi there,

You are allowed to play over a LAN with friends but connecting to a third party server that emulates battle.net code is illegal.  These servers are shut down as we find them.  If you are playing with a set group of friends and connecting to a game hosted by a friend you will have no problems.  It is when people host servers and start advertising or something similar attempting to make a profit where it becomes illegal most of the times.

There are too many legal questions that can arise and I am not qualified to answer them all but if you just play with your friends, whether you host the game yourself or another friend does there shouldn't be any problems.

Regards,
Peter N
Blizzard Entertainment