The Beijing Internet Court reported a new type of copyright infringement case: virtual digital human image is protected by copyright law.

Recently, the Beijing Internet Court reported a case of infringement of virtual digital human copyright. The court determined that the virtual digital human image involved in the case is original and should be protected by copyright law. The defendant infringed on the plaintiff's information dissemination rights over the virtual digital human. Virtual digital humans carry multiple rights. Judge Zhu Ge of the Beijing Internet Court pointed out that virtual digital humans consist of external expressions and technical cores. In terms of external expressions, if they are based on real human images and use real human data, they involve the protection of the personality rights of natural persons, such as portrait and voice rights. On the other hand, virtual digital human images with originality constitute artistic works and can be protected by copyright law. In terms of technical cores, codes related to virtual digital humans can be protected as computer software under copyright law, and algorithms and data with confidentiality, value, and secrecy can be protected as trade secrets. In reality, a comprehensive judgment should be made based on the parties' arguments and the circumstances of the case.