LEGAL REGULATION OF METAVERSES: ISSUES OF JURISDICTION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION IN VIRTUAL WORLDS

Abstract

The study is devoted to the legal regulation of metaverses, with a focus on issues of jurisdiction and intellectual property protection. The legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and international experiences (European Union, United States of America, China, Russia) are analyzed. Based on a comparative legal analysis, significant gaps have been identified: the uncertainty surrounding the legal status of virtual objects and digital assets, challenges in determining competent jurisdiction for cross-border virtual interactions, and the limited effectiveness of traditional intellectual property protection mechanisms when applied to digital artifacts. It has been established that enforcement challenges are exacerbated by the specific nature of virtual worlds–their global character, decentralization, and participant anonymity–which creates a conflict between the territorial principle of national law and the extraterritorial nature of metaverses. Specific recommendations are proposed to improve Uzbekistan’s legislation: the introduction of fundamental legal concepts and frameworks necessary for effective metaverse regulation; adaptation of international private law norms to the peculiarities of virtual spaces; modernization of intellectual property protection tools in the digital environment; and ensuring an adequate level of cybersecurity. Additionally, the prospects for developing self-regulation mechanisms and alternative dispute resolution are explored. The study’s findings underscore the need for the evolution of the legal system in response to the technological challenges of the digital era while preserving fundamental legal principles and international human rights standards in virtual spaces.