Core Viewpoint - The Beijing Internet Court ruled that the virtual digital human images possess originality and are protected as artistic works under copyright law, with the defendant ordered to pay 15,000 yuan in damages for unauthorized sales of virtual models [1][4]. Group 1: Case Details - The plaintiffs, including companies Ju and Yuan, jointly created virtual digital humans A and B, with A having over 4.4 million followers and recognized as a significant cultural event in 2022 [2][3]. - The defendant, Sun, sold unauthorized models of the virtual humans on a CG model website, infringing on the plaintiffs' rights [3][4]. - The court found substantial similarity between the defendant's models and the plaintiffs' works, confirming infringement of the information network dissemination rights [4]. Group 2: Legal Implications - The ruling emphasizes the rapid growth of the virtual digital human industry, predicting a core market size exceeding 40 billion yuan by 2025, with a total industry scale surpassing 600 billion yuan [5]. - The legal status of virtual digital humans is complex, involving multiple rights holders and requiring clarity on legal boundaries to support industry growth [5][6]. - The case serves as a significant reference for intellectual property protection in the virtual digital human sector, promoting healthy development in this emerging field [6].
虚拟数字人形象受著作权法保护,北京互联网法院作出生效判决