dirightDigital Law JournalЦифровое право2686-9136Maxim Inozemtsev10.38044/2686-9136-2025-6-2-91-111diright-300Research ArticleARTICLESСТАТЬИVirtual space and in-game property: Aspects of legal regulationВиртуальное пространство и игровое имущество: аспекты правового регулированияhttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-7290-7968ПаговА. Ж.PagovA. Zh.

магистр юриспруденции, аспирант, кафедра теории и истории государства и права, юридический факультет

199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7–9

Astemir Zh. Pagov — LL.M., Ph.D. student, Department of Legal Theory and History, Law Faculty

7–9, Universitetskaya Embankment, St. Petersburg, 199034

apagov.legal@gmail.comСанкт-Петербургский государственный университетРоссияSaint Petersburg State UniversityRussian Federation2025040120266291111Copyright © Pagov A.Z., 20252025Пагов А.Ж.Pagov A.Z.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.digitallawjournal.org/jour/article/view/300

This article examines the legal regime of virtual in-game property as a distinctive phenomenon of the digital environment, characterized by specific attributes and legal implications that differentiate it from traditional forms of property. The study’s especially relevant because of the absence of clear statutory regulation governing the transfer, exchange, and alienation of virtual in-game assets and the mechanisms for their legal protection amid the rapid expansion of the gaming industry in digitally mediated markets. This regulatory gap generates legal uncertainty and exposes the legitimate interests of millions of users to heightened risks. The purpose of the research is to identify the core characteristics of virtual in-game property and to determine adequate legal instruments for its protection by analyzing both international and domestic approaches to regulating this phenomenon. The methodology combines: comparative analysis of existing regulatory concepts addressing virtual in-game property; a systematic review of end-user license agreements and terms of service of leading gaming platforms; a critical assessment of the doctrinal and practical appropriateness of applying traditional categories such as “property” and “ownership” to digital environments; and a historical analysis of the evolution of approaches to digital assets. The principal findings define virtual in-game property through a set of cumulative features: economic value, functional transferability and potential alienability vis-à-vis third parties, and existence exclusively within the boundaries of a virtual game space. The analysis also delineates the jurisdictional contours of virtual game worlds and identifies mechanisms for maintaining a balance between the lawful interests of developers and ordinary users. Additionally, the author draws a historical parallel between developers’ “digital power” and the common-law concept of real estate, highlighting structural similarities in control over access, use, and exclusion. The study differentiates the developers’ intellectual creations embodied in digital objects from users’ entitlements, detailing the possession and use models embedded in contractual user agreements. The article concludes by proposing key definitions shaping the legal regime of virtual in-game property and offering practical recommendations for improving law enforcement practice and legislative policy, aimed at ensuring effective protection of player-consumers’ rights while accounting for the unique nature of virtual in-game assets and their increasing economic significance.

Статья посвящена анализу правового режима виртуального игрового имущества как особого вида виртуального мира, обладающего уникальными характеристиками и правовыми аспектами. Актуальность работы определяется отсутствием четкого нормативно-правового регулирования оборота виртуального игровогоимущества и его защиты в условиях стремительного развития гейминг-индустрии в цифровой среде, что создаёт правовые пробелы и угрозы законным интересам миллионов пользователей. Целью исследования является выявление ключевых характеристик виртуального игрового имущества и определение адекватных правовых механизмов его защиты посредством анализа как международных, так и национальных подходов к регулированию данного феномена. Методология включает сравнительный анализ существующих концепций правового регулирования виртуального игрового имущества, систематическое изучение пользовательских соглашений ведущих игровых платформ, критический анализ правомерности применения традиционных терминов «собственность» и «имущество» в цифровой среде, а также историко-правовой анализ развития подходов к регулированию цифровых активов. Основные результаты определяют виртуальное игровое имущество через совокупность его характеристик: экономическую ценность, возможность передачи и отчуждения третьим лицам, а также существование исключительно в пределах виртуального игрового пространства. Проведённый анализ выявляет границы юрисдикции виртуальных игровых миров, механизмы обеспечения баланса законных интересов разработчиков и рядовых пользователей. Автором дополнительно проводится историческая параллель между «цифровой властью» разработчиков и концепцией недвижимого имущества в странах общего права (real estate). Исследование разграничивает результаты интеллектуальной деятельности разработчиков на созданные ими цифровые объекты и права пользователей, детализируя механизмы владения, установленные в пользовательских соглашениях. В заключение сформулированы ключевые дефиниции, определяющие правовой режим виртуального игрового имущества, а также предложены практические рекомендации по совершенствованию правоприменения и законодательного урегулирования, направленные на адекватную защиту прав игроков-потребителей с учетом уникальной природы виртуального игрового имущества и его растущей экономической значимости.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.