Metaverse and Civil Liability Arising from Intellectual Property Infringement

Abstract

The metaverse, as a three-dimensional and interactive virtual environment, has created a remarkable transformation in digital technologies and provided a platform for economic, social, and cultural activities. With the expansion of this space, the issue of intellectual property rights and the civil liability arising from their infringement has become one of the major legal challenges. This article examines the foundations of civil liability in the metaverse and compares them with existing legal principles to analyze how intellectual property laws and compensation mechanisms can be applied within this environment. The findings of the study indicate that the decentralized, transnational, and anonymous nature of users in the metaverse makes it difficult to pursue intellectual property violations. Intellectual property rights in the metaverse encompass copyright, trademarks, patents, and industrial designs, all of which can be easily infringed due to the rapid copyability and modifiability of digital content. The main challenges in this regard include a lack of legal transparency, difficulty in identifying offenders, determining judicial jurisdiction in cross-border contexts, and the liability of hosting platforms. To address these challenges, several solutions are proposed, including the development of specific metaverse regulations, the use of blockchain technology for registering ownership of digital works, the establishment of artificial intelligence–based monitoring systems, and user education programs.