A man living in Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province has inherited his dead mother's cellphone number as "virtual property".

Although the mobile telecommunication company and the notary office at last recognized his mother's cellphone number as his mother's virtual legacy, they said the lack of a specific law or regulation on virtual property constitute a considerable obstacle to their work, and they hoped the authorities would expedite the introduction of a virtual property law and draw up policies for virtual property rights.

The General Provisions of the Civil Law of China stipulate that the treatment of virtual property should be done in accordance with relevant rules. But the rules are vague at present, causing disputes over virtual property rights.

With more and more internet applications involving virtual property, the rights to this property should be protected by law.

China can draw lessons from the United States, Germany and the Republic of Korea, which have established legal and policy systems covering virtual property rights recognition and protection.