Watts highlights disputes over contracts, IP infringement, avatar misconduct and virtual asset theft—all rooted in familiar legal principles but complicated by pseudonymity and borderless interaction. Jurisdictional challenges abound, with platform terms often dictating applicable law, yet cross-border disputes remain difficult to resolve. Verifying identities and enforcing judgments in virtual spaces is fraught, but technologies like NFTs may aid service of documents.
Watts sees promise in immersive dispute resolution—virtual hearings, mediation and arbitration—offering accessible, real-time engagement. As digital life expands, she urges the legal profession to adapt swiftly to this evolving frontier, where traditional frameworks must meet novel realities.
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