Legal nature of the metaverse

Abstract

Representing a network of virtual worlds, the metaverse ultimately forms a complex object of legal regulation due to the possibility of its normalization according to the provisions of different branches of law. The present work sets out to reveal the legal nature of the metaverse from a legal perspective. The selected methodology for determining its legal nature consists in comparing objects that are similar to the metaverse, but are already regulated by legal provisions. Such objects include the Internet, websites, multiplayer online video games, and virtual space in general. In order to identify their similarities and differences, the metaverse is compared to the specified objects. While the multifaceted nature of the metaverse permits its definition from a Russian legal perspective as information, as an object of intellectual property, or as a means of communication, the metaverse resembles the compared objects only in the most general way, while their differences are so significant that reducing its legal nature to only one of them does not fully account for its salient characteristics. By analogy with other spatial categories, but taking into account its specific features, the metaverse can be considered as a virtual space sui generis. While there is a lack of current legal regulation to support such a conclusion, future legislation of the metaverse should be built with this in mind.