Digitization of Objects of Civil Law Relationships: From Transformation to New Legal Regimes

   Drawing upon the methodology of scientific inquiry and the foundational tenets of civil law theory, the author explores the legal consequences of digital transformation in the sphere of civil law relationships. The analysis leads to the conclusion that a variety of digital phenomena — including digital rights, the digital ruble, digital currency, cryptocurrency, digital financial assets, artificial intelligence, and associated technologies-constitute, by their essential nature, ideal-type innovative products. Through the use of computer processor-based machine language that represents a materially grounded system of signs these intangible constructs acquire an objective digital embodiment, thereby attaining the status of objects of civil law relationships. Based upon the proposed classification of digital objects, the author examines typological characteristics and distinctions of such objects in legal regulation. The study further identifies emerging trends in the evolution of property turnover,
particularly in relation to the multiplier effect of digital objects under conditions of systemic transformation. The author addresses the legal consequences arising from alterations in the objective form and the interchangeability of the material carriers of new digital objects. The author argues that the theoretical and practical challenges associated with the transformation of the nexus between the content, form, and material substrate of digital objects underscore the necessity for the development and legislative codification of legal constructs capable not only of remedying existing lacunae and complexities in the regulation of relations involving innovative digital products, but also of establishing effective mechanisms for the legal protection of such objects and the enforcement of subjective rights in relation thereto.

1. Dozortsev VA. Intellectual Property Rights: Concept, System, and Codification Challenges. Collection of articles. Private Law Research Centre. Moscow: Statut Publ.; 2005. (In Russ.).

2. Gabov AV. A digital ruble of the central bank as a civil rights object. Aktual’nye problemy rossijskogo prava. 2021;5:55-65. (In Russ.).

3. Ivanov AA. Digitalization and property. Fragment of a lecture course «Сivil Law and Digitalisation». Zakon. 2023;7:43-52. (In Russ.).

4. Mozolin VP. The Concept of Intellectual Rights. In: Mozolin VP. The Modern Doctrine and Civil Legislation. Moscow: Yustitsinform Publ.; 2008. (In Russ.).

5. Poduzova EB. «Artificial Intelligence» and Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Contract Law: A Civil Law Concept. Vasilevskaya LYu, editor. Moscow: Prospekt Publ.; 2023. (In Russ.).

6. Rozhkova MA. The Civil Law Concept of Intellectual Property in the Russian Legal System. Moscow: Statut Publ.; 2018. (In Russ.).

7. Sukhanov EA. On civil law issues of digitalisation. Civil Law Review. 2025;1:37-52. (In Russ.).

8. Sukhanov EA. On the civil legal nature of «digital property». Civil Law Review. 2021;6:7-29. (In Russ.).

9. Turbanov AV. A digital ruble as a new form of money. Aktual’nye problemy rossijskogo prava. 2022;5:73-90. (In Russ.).

10. Vasilevskaya LYu, Poduzova EB, Tasalov FA. Digitalization of Civil Turnover: Problems and Development Trends (Civil Law Study). In 5 vols. Vol. I. Vasilevskaya LYu, editor. Moscow: Prospekt Publ.; 2021. (In Russ.).

11. Vasilevskaya LYu, Poduzova EB, Tasalov FA. Digitalization of Civil Turnover: Problems and Development Trends (Civil Law Study). In 5 vols. Vol. III. Vasilevskaya LYu, editor. Moscow: Prospekt Publ.; 2021. (In Russ.).

12. Vasilevskaya LYu. A digital ruble: a civilist’s view of the problem. Lex Russica. 2023;1:9-19. (In Russ.).

13. Vasilevskaya LYu. Digital Rights as a New Object of Civil Rights: Problems of Legal Qualification. Business and Law. 2019;5:3-14. (In Russ.).

14. Vavilin EV, Vasilevskaya LYu (eds.). Modernization of Civil Legislation: Legal Experience and Development Trends. Moscow: Prospekt Publ.; 2025. (In Russ.).

15. Vavilin EV. Artificial intelligence as a participant in civil relations: the transformation of law. Tomsk State University Journal of Law. 2021;42:135-146. (In Russ.).

16. Vavilin EV. Digital ruble: formation of the mechanism of legal regulation. Tomsk State University Journal of Law. 2023;489:201-206. (In Russ.).

17. Vavilin EV. NFT tokens: civil and procedural regime. Herald of Civil Procedure. 2023;1:62-64. (In Russ.).

18. Vavilin EV. Problemy zashchity grazhdanskikh prav. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Pravovedenie. 2009;1:174-178. (In Russ.).

19. Vavilin EV. The principle of combination of private and public interests in laws on the digital currency. Yurist. 2022;9:54-57. (In Russ.).

20. Vavilin EV. The status of artificial intelligence: from object to the subject of legal relations. Tomsk State University Journal of Law. 2022;45:147-158. (In Russ.).

21. Vavilin EV. Transformation of Civil-Law and Procedural Relations through the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Formation of New Legal Regimes. Problemy grazhdanskogo protsessa. 2021;6:13-35. (In Russ.).