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Own-initiative report First reading

Policy implications of the development of virtual worlds – civil, company, commercial and intellectual property law issues

Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.

Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 17 January 2024. This is its final position on the matter.

  1. ✓ Referred to committee 11 May 2023
  2. ✓ Committee work Report adopted 11 December 2023
  3. ✓ Tabled for plenary 15 December 2023
  4. ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 17 January 2024
  5. ✓ Parliament’s position Final
How a file moves through Parliament

A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The adopted resolution is Parliament’s final position; it is not itself law.

Who is working on it

Lead committee
JURI — Legal Affairs
Rapporteurs
Axel VOSS PPEMEP #197717 S&D

The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.

The text, version by version

Adopted by Parliament · latest Adopted text TA9-0029/2024 17 January 2024 ✦ Parliament's resolution on the policy implications of virtual worlds for civil, company, commercial and intellectual property law. It says existing EU law already applies to virtual worlds, asks the Commission to clarify obligations, review private international law and protect users, and sets out concerns on data, liability, NFTs and copyright.⇄ what changed Tabled for plenary Report A9-0442/2023 15 December 2023 ✦ Parliament's resolution on the legal policy implications of virtual worlds covers civil, company, commercial and intellectual property law. It welcomes the Commission's definition of virtual worlds and calls for an ethical and legal framework grounded in existing EU law.⇄ what changed Committee draft Draft report (JURI) 10 October 2023 ✦ This draft report by the Committee on Legal Affairs examines the civil, company, commercial and intellectual property law issues raised by virtual worlds and the metaverse. It welcomes the Commission's proposed definition of virtual worlds and calls for standardisation and interoperability.

Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.

Timeline

  1. Plenary stage
  2. 17 January 2024 Plenary vote
    Sitting of 17 January 2024 📄 Report A9-0442/2023📄 Adopted text TA9-0029/2024
    Adopted Adopted by a large majority
    For 491 Against 106 Abstained 35

    Final vote on the motion for a resolution at 12:42 · 78% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →

  3. 15 December 2023 Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    📄 Report A9-0442/2023
  4. Committee stage
  5. 11 December 2023 Committee vote: report adopted

    JURI (Legal Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  6. 10 October 2023 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in JURI (Legal Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    📄 Draft report (JURI)
  7. 11 May 2023 Referred to the JURI (Legal Affairs) committee

    The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.