Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones. Building a Data Property Right System with Chinese Characteristics

This paper explores China’s efforts in the definition of the legal foundation of data as a resource and tradable good, with particular regard to the question about the possibility of claiming property rights on it. It focuses on how data has become a significant economic asset in China by analysing the various initiatives undertaken within the legal system aimed at addressing the associated regulatory challenges. A special attention is dedicated to the «data property rights system with Chinese characteristics» introduced by the 2022 Opinions in order to highlight the regulatory and taxonomic implications of this policy paper.