虚拟角色可版权问题研究——基于《此间的少年》案的思考

A Study on the Copyright Ability of Fictitious Characters—Based on the Case of “The Boy Here”

《此间的少年》案再次引起学界对虚拟角色保护问题的讨论。司法实践经历了从全面否定到逐步保护的过程。学者则持反不正当竞争法、商品化权、著作权等主张。美国的司法实践认为虚拟角色达到一定标准可以成为著作权法保护的客体,并通过判例不断完善可版权性的具体判断标准。从虚拟角色来源于创作这一基本点出发,我国不应排除虚拟角色著作权法保护的可能性。

The case of “The Boy Here” has once again raised the issue of virtual character protection in the academic community. The judicial practice has gone from total denial to gradual protection, and then to the introduction of judicial interpretations. Scholars have advocated for anti-unfair competition laws, merchandising rights, and copyrights. The judicial practice in the United States considers that vir-tual characters can become objects protected by copyright law if they meet certain criteria, and the specific criteria for judging copyright ability have been continuously improved through jurispru-dence. Starting from the basic point that virtual characters originate from creation, China should not exclude the possibility of copyright protection for virtual characters.