论游戏角色设计锚点之作品特征及其法律保护

On the Work Characteristics of Game Character Design Anchors and Their Legal Protection

In response to emerging challenges such as substantial imitation in the determination of video game character infringement, this paper proposes an analytical framework termed “systemic identification based on design anchors.” The study argues that the traditional “access + substantial similarity” paradigm in copyright law, grounded in a presumption of static and isolated works, struggles to effectively protect the dynamic and systemic expression of video game characters, which is organically formed through the integration of multiple anchors (visual, behavioral, narrative, and conceptual). This research contends that the originality of a game character lies in the characteristic structure—possessing holistic recognizability—constituted by the creative arrangement of its core design anchors. By deconstructing judicial cases such as the “Zuimeng Yingxiong” plagiarism dispute, the paper demonstrates that this analytical framework can penetrate superficial appearances and accurately identify the systematic appropriation of a character's “total concept and feel.” The conclusion asserts that judicial practice should shift towards a holistic examination of the compound expression formed by a character's cluster of anchors, thereby providing more fitting legal protection for originality within the game industry.

针对游戏角色侵权认定中实质性模仿等新型难题，本文提出“基于设计锚点的系统性识别”这一分析框架。研究指出，传统著作权法基于“接触+实质性相似”的模式，因预设静态、孤立的作品观念，难以有效保护游戏角色由多种锚点（视觉、行为、叙事、概念）有机融合所形成的动态、系统性表达。本研究主张，游戏角色的独创性在于其核心设计锚点经创造性编排后所构成的、具有整体识别度的特征结构。通过解构《最萌英雄》抄袭案等司法案例，论证该分析框架能穿透表象，精准识别对角色整体感觉的系统性挪用。结论认为，司法实践应转向对角色锚点集群构成的复合性表达进行整体审视，从而为游戏产业原创提供更适配的法律保障。