Artificial Intelligence: An Object of Virtual Property or an Independent Subject?

This scientific article is devoted to the analysis of the current legal regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). Today, different countries’ legislation in this area varies significantly. Some states recognize AI as an object of ownership, but this prompts additional questions about virtual property, which is becoming increasingly important. It covers not only software and algorithms, but also data that is created and processed by artificial intelligence. This raises questions about ownership of the intellectual activity results produced with the help of AI as well as the protection of virtual assets rights. The need for a clear legal definition of virtual property is becoming an increasingly urgent task in the light of rapidly developing technologies. For example, literary works, musical compositions, and other creative products generated by artificial intelligence systems provoke discussions about authors’ or license holders’ rights to these objects usage. While some experts insist on the need to recognize the legal personality of AI, others argue that the rights to the objects created by AI should belong to their developers or users. The article also presents proposals for improving the legislation in order to integrate the issues related to artificial intelligence into the field of futurological law. The relevance of the research is determined by the necessity to develop common legal approaches to the regulation of AI and virtual property, which will ensure legal certainty and protection of interests of all participants in legal relations in this area.