Research on the Path of Real Right Protection for Network Virtual Property

自我国2003年网络虚拟财产第一案以来，网络虚拟财产物权说、债权说、知识产权说等学说纷争不断。对于网络虚拟财产的保护，物权说即使有小小瑕疵，但其最有说服力且最具保护力，将其进行物权化保护也最有利于当下网络社会的现实状况。因此，本文基于网络虚拟财产外延不定、属性纷争不断和明确保护的必要性，阐述了当下网络虚拟财产定性为物权说的主要难题在于其与物权基本特征、物权客体不适以及在物权法定原则和物权公示原则上有所障碍，从而通过四个层面论证网络虚拟财产的物权化保护路径，即在特征层面网络虚拟财产具有支配性、排他性和特定性，在客体层面应扩大“物”的解释，在制度层面将网络虚拟财产定位为网络服务提供者的所有权限定性让渡，其在让渡后身份转换为监管者，在公示层面网络虚拟财产可结合不动产登记和动产公示两种方式进行创新使用。Since China’s first network virtual property case in 2003, academic debates have persisted regarding theories such as the real right theory, creditor’s right theory, and intellectual property theory for network virtual property. Although the real right theory has minor flaws, it is the most persuasive and protective, making real right protection the most conducive to the current reality of the online society. Therefore, based on the uncertain extension of network virtual property, continuous disputes over its attributes, and the necessity of clear protection, this paper expounds that the main challenges in defining network virtual property as real rights lie in its inconsistency with the basic characteristics of real rights, the unsuitability of its object for real rights, and obstacles in the principle of legality of real rights and the principle of public notification of real rights. The paper then demonstrates the path of real right protection for network virtual property through four dimensions: (1) at the characteristic level, network virtual property has dominion, exclusivity, and specificity; (2) at the object level, the interpretation of “things” should be expanded; (3) at the institutional level, network virtual property should be positioned as the transfer of ownership rights by network service providers, who then transform into regulators; and (4) at the public notification level, network virtual property can innovatively combine the registration system for real estate and the public notification methods for movables.