This is really going way to far. But it's a general problem about sofware patents.

I think it shoudn't be possible to get a patent on a simple combination of two softwares. It's just "chat & virtual space", not actualy something you have to come up with but rather already exists, just not in that context.

From a legal standpoint it's very unliky that they are getting trough with this and could make all the MMO-copanies pay, but patents like this souldn't even be allowed in the first place. Because you always take a risk by implementing it anyway and hope that a judge would see it the same way that you do and overthrow the patent.