Organization: Counter Logic Gaming
Players: Austin “Link” Shin, Marcel “dexter” Feldkamp, Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng, Zaqueri “Aphromoo” Black
Region: North America
Date of Ruling: 8/12/14
Subject: Fine; Violation of LCS Ruleset

FACTS

During Week 11 of the NA LCS, Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) sent five of their team members to Korea to practice for upcoming live events. On the day prior to their departure, CLG management requested live accounts from Riot.

At this time, Riot miscommunicated to CLG that, according to standing policy regarding Korean accounts, CLG could receive Tournament Realm (TR) accounts, but not live accounts. Further internal investigation revealed that this was actually not the standing policy. The correct policy is to give teams visiting Korea for non-tournament purposes Live accounts, not TR accounts. This policy is necessitated by the potential instability of the Tournament Realm and security exposure entailed by giving non-OGN teams access to Korean TR accounts.

Recognizing our error and CLG’s urgent practice needs in Korea, we provided CLG with provisional TR accounts within 24 hours of their landing as a temporary measure for practicing while the error was corrected.
During this time, it was brought to our attention that members of CLG were engaging in illicit account sharing despite having a legitimate practice option pending in the provisional TR accounts while also being aware that such an action was against the rules.

After the correct policy was ascertained, Riot granted CLG official live accounts and retracted the TR accounts in accordance with standing Riot policy.

Our own miscommunications are a mitigating factor in assessing penalties, but account sharing constitutes a clear violation of the League of Legends Terms of Use, no matter the situation.

RELEVANT RULES

Section 10.2.7 of the official LCS ruleset states:

If LCS or Riot determines that a Team Member has violated the Summoner’s Code, the LoL Terms of [Use], or other rules of LoL, LCS officials may assign penalties at their sole discretion.

The League of Legends Terms of Use prohibits players from sharing, transferring, selling or trading user accounts and/or login credentials.

RULING

Members of CLG engaged in the act of account sharing, which is in violation of LCS Rule 10.2.7 as well as the League of Legends Terms of Use, and will be subject to penalties.

COMPETITION PENALTIES

The following players will be fined $1,250 each for their transgressions:

• Austin “Link” Shin, Marcel “dexter” Feldkamp, Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng, Zaqueri “Aphromoo” Black
• These players are also subject to sanctions by Riot Korea, including a 2-year ban from OGN and KeSPA-owned tournaments including but not limited to OGN Champions, Masters, and NLB. Read here for more details (Riot Korea ruling).