Metaverse Reality vs Natural Reality: The Impact of the Type of Reality on Legal Concepts

Crenguta Leaua focuses on the transformative impact of the metaverse on our understanding of (the legal) reality and its implications for the diverse array of metaverse ‘protagonists’, including creators, avatars, and observers. She highlights the necessity of adapting our legal frameworks to accommodate this complex digital reality, currently still operating under a hybrid of laws rooted in the natural world, but which diverges significantly from its physical counterpart. Crenguta also delves into the multifaceted identities and roles of humans and players (some of which are AI-based) within the metaverse, probing how these dynamics challenge traditional arbitration laws. Furthermore, she examines how the coexistence of the physical world alongside the metaverse, as well as the presence of multiple sub-realities within it, disrupt conventional legal paradigms. This chapter underscores the imperative of embracing and navigating the complexities of the metaverse within our evolving legal landscape and advocates for a nuanced, multidimensional approach to legal thinking.