The Nature And Legal Protection Of Network Virtual Property

The internet virtual property is the outcome of the speedy development in online game industry. It has the general characteristics of property, and it has its own characteristics which is different from the general characteristics of property. Along with the development of the internet economy, the disputes that are caused from the online game will be more and more. And the most of this kind of disputes are surrounding the'internet virtual property'. These conflicts usually cannot be handled easily because there are different kinds of opinions on legal nature of internet virtual property in law academia and public. This situation has been already obstructed the development of online game industry.This article starts with defining the concept and legal nature of the internet virtual property. Compared with the property of traditional civil law, the internet virtual property can be considered as legal property, which means it can be protected by law. Then the article concludes the unique character of the internet virtual property. In China there are three popular thoughts on the legal natures of internet virtual property—property right, intellectual right and contractual right. The author, in this thesis, makes a thorough discussion and comparisons the various ways of protection respectively. Then the thesis focuses on the analysis of the status of legal regulation of internet virtual property in China and induces the practices of other countries and regions. Finally, the author put forward to some suggestions, as to the ways of legal protection of internet virtual property by adopting the relevant provisions under the current civil law system of China, and gives the thoughts and suggestions about the legal protection of internet virtual property.