GAMERS' RIGHTS TO VIRTUAL PROPERTY

Abstract

The end of the 20th — the beginning of the 21st century became a new milestone in the development of civilization, called the digital age. Today we can define its main characteristics: the spread of computers, smartphones, and other devices; the development of the Internet; the formation of new sectors of the economy, including the video game industry. At the time of the formation of the gaming industry, there were no problems regarding the virtual ownership of digital objects by players. This is due to the low quality of games, the lack of the ability to use the Internet, and the functional limitations of games. However, with the increase in the number of games, their quality, the emergence of competition for each active user, the problem of user rights to digital objects in in-game universes has become a reality. The problem of virtual property is becoming more acute due to the lack of legislative regulation of this institution. Game creators force players to accept illegal terms in license agreements. Judicial practice of this issue also shows the lack of understanding among judges of the essence of legal relations that develop between gamers and game creators. In this article, we will consider what is MMORPG. Research the question of the legality of some parts license agreements. Try to answer the main questions: is there a player's virtual property in the MMORPG, and if so, how is it protected, or how should it be protected?