数字经济下虚拟财产的立法进路——基于《民法典》第127条与保管合同的视角

On the Legislation of Virtual Property Under Digital Economy—A Perspective Based on Article 127 of the Civil Code and Bailment Contract

《民法典》第127条承认网络虚拟财产为民事权利客体,最终认可了其财产属性,为我国虚拟财产的立法与保护提供了制度基础。但学界对于虚拟财产的具体属性及所有权归属仍莫衷一是,这不利于虚拟财产的保护与数字经济的发展。实际上,网络运营商与用户之间存在双重的合同关系。用户一方面通过与运营商签订“服务合同”而使用其网络平台;另一方面在此平台上以金钱或劳动获得虚拟财产,并将其拥有的虚拟财产一直寄存于运营商服务器中,形成事实上的“保管合同”。从双重合同关系出发,长期悬而未决的虚拟财产法律属性问题可迎刃而解,为未来的虚拟财产立法奠定坚实的法理基础。

Article 127 of China s Civil Code acknowledges virtual property as an object of civil rights,which finally recognizes its property attribute,and provides an institutional foundation for the legislation and protection of virtual property in China.However,legal scholars still disagree on the specific attributes and ownership of virtual property,which is not conducive to the protection of virtual property and the development of digital economy.Our research shows that there exists double contractual relationship between network operators and customers.On the one hand,customers gain access to network platforms by signing a“service contract”with operators.On the other hand,customers acquire virtual property at these network platforms through money or labor,and deposit them therein,which constitute a de facto bailment.From this perspective of dual contractual relationship,many longstanding legal problems about the legal nature of virtual property can be readily resolved,and thus lay a solid legal foundation for future legislation about virtual property.