Prohibitions on Third-party Software

Community General Discussion
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We continue to work to put a stop to the impact that accounts utilizing third-party software can have on World of Warcraft. We regularly implement new and better cheat detection aimed at identifying those who reverse-engineer and bypass our security protocols to modify the game client and/or control the game in ways that are prohibited.

We regularly take action against such behavior, up to and including the permanent closure of the WoW accounts involved.

The use of third-party software that modifies the World of Warcraft game client is against our Terms of Service. Part 1, Section C of the Blizzard End User License Agreement reads:

License Limitations

Blizzard may suspend or revoke your license to use the Platform, or parts, components and/or single features thereof, if you violate, or assist others in violating, the license limitations set forth below. You agree that you will not, in whole or in part or under any circumstances, do the following:

Derivative Works: Copy or reproduce (except as provided in Section 1.B.), translate, reverse engineer, derive source code from, modify, disassemble, decompile, or create derivative works based on or related to the Platform.

Cheating: Create, use, offer, promote, advertise, make available and/or distribute the following or assist therein: any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that can be used in connection with the Platform and/or any component or feature thereof which changes and/or facilitates the gameplay or other functionality;

We expect players to remove third-party software that bypasses the security of the game client, to avoid penalties such as suspension or closure of your account.

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Does this mean that iMorph and Auto Hot Key are now banned?

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iMorph already did. It even says on their download page (at least the one I goggled to make sure I was talking about the right software) that it violates the TOS and can get you banned. AHK seems highly debatable by the community. It CAN, but doesn’t necessarily have to be used as such. The general opinion by the community is to avoid it, because it’s highly suspected it can result in a ban.

Bliz will almost never answer these questions directly.

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Could we get some official clarification if this means auction house addons such as Auctionator and TSM are not permitted?

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I’m 99% certain anything that the addon API can access is not bannable
otherwise they’d restrict it

the tsm app however may be a grey area?

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They always have been.

AHK is a program that replicates input. Blizzard has long stated that inputs should be 1:1 human action, as in one press does one action. I am fairly certain the only usage in WoW would be to attempt to record a rotation.

You just did:

If it can touch the API, its allowed. Addons touch the API, and thus are allowed.

I personally have a question for Kaivax or any other person that would be actually knowledge about this.

Is there a reason why Warden is not kernal level?

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If they wanted you to stop using those, they’d break the addon API that they use.

Anything that runs entirely in the blizzard defined and provided addon sandbox is fine.

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Well, it’s nice to see the next ban wave is in full swing and anyone that decides to bypass security measures to be able to use third-party software and enjoy a nice long vacation and start from scratch with all of their achievements and collections. Never could understand cheating at a video game.

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I would like clarification on Tradeskill Master as well :dracthyr_uwahh_animated:

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Personally, I would rather Bliz only have access to what’s related to Bliz. Not everything. Yes, kernal level stuff works, but it’s SO intrusive.

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its allmost like ur team CS, game testers if there where any left or you know gm that arnt automated functions they’d just be banning bots and the such yet i keep reporting them nothing happens amazing how that happens

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Doesn’t seem like it BUT they should break those kind of addons

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Yet Turtle WoW and Ascension are out there doing exactly that, even making a profit out of it, and you do nothing. Hypocrisy.

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Except many people I know who use mouseover macros in the most legitimate way were also banned. Now they can’t get ahold of an actual human to appeal, with all the evidence making it clear as day what they are doing is well within the ToS. Meanwhile, people are getting banned for selling summons cheaper than the average and Blizzard is pandering to gold sellers. Why do we allow Blizzard to abuse us constantly?

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Maybe Blizzard can detect pservers installed on your PC, if that fits derivative work. Unless I misunderstand. But I have no such thing.

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Mouseover macros are not against ToS. Unless they are using third party tools, in which case those are covered under the “not expressly permitted” bit.

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Kernel level anti-cheat is a straight uninstall and subscription cancel. Simple as, no arguments.

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Always have been. Enforcement might just be iffy.