Chinese courts have ruled that gaming accounts, in-game items, and digital purchases can be passed on to family after death, setting a major legal precedent for digital ownership.
The decisions come from several court cases over the years, with judges ruling that these digital assets have real value and should be treated like other property. In one recent case, a mother was allowed to inherit her late son’s 87 gaming accounts.
The courts also ruled that platform terms of service cannot automatically block inheritance if the law permits it. However, personal data such as private messages and chat history remain protected and are not included.