We truly appreciate your continued support of the ‘VSPO! Virtual esports Project’.
The ‘VSPO! Virtual esports Project’ (hereinafter referred to as the “Project”) actively supports your derivative creation activities using the copyrighted works of the Project.
As the Project will be created together with all of our fans, we have established the following “‘VSPO! Virtual esports Project’ Derivative Creation and Video Reposting Guidelines” (hereinafter referred to as the “these Guidelines”) so that you can enjoy your derivative creation activities with a sense of security.
The Project will not assert copyright infringement for certain derivative creation activities concerning the Project and members appearing therein conducted by individual users so as long as such activities are compliant with these Guidelines and within the scope of personal fan activities.
If you engage in derivative creation activities and video reposting of the original contents of the Project, it will be deemed that you have agreed to these Guidelines. If you do not agree to these Guidelines, you may not engage in derivative creation activities and video reposting. Please read and observe these Guidelines when producing your work.
*The subject matter of these Guidelines may be changed without notice. Please read this page from time to time and engage in your derivative creation activities and video reposting within the scope permitted under the latest version of these Guidelines. Please note in advance that we will not be liable in any way for any damage that you suffer due to any revision to these Guidelines.
In these Guidelines, the terms “Original contents”, “Derivative creation” and “Video reposting” are defined as follows.
Original contents: All copyrighted works owned by the Project, such as image data, scenarios and music produced and published by the Project.
Derivative creation: Act of individual users creatively expressing their thoughts or feelings by using the knowledge acquired from the Project as a part of their fan activities (hereinafter referred to as the “Derivative Creation Activities”), or creations resulting from such act (hereinafter referred to as the “Derivative Works”). Please note that this does not include mere modifications of the Original contents that do not involve any creativity.
Video reposting: Act of producing a video including a so-called “highlight clip video” using member images, videos and audio as the Original contents provided by the Project, especially a part of a live stream, and added with audio and text (hereinafter referred to as the “Reposted Video”). Because the term “Reposted Video” means a video using the member images, videos and audio of the Project, the term “Reposted Video” includes not only the Derivative Works but also mere modifications of the Original contents that do not involve any creativity.
The Derivative Creation Activities permitted by the Project refer to those newly created by individuals or groups without corporate status based on the Original contents provided by the Project. Specifically, this includes illustrations, fan publications, manga, and novels as creative works and their various applications, and various activities through the creation of cosplay costumes and cosplay performances as activities and their various applications.
Unless it corresponds to Video reposting, the distribution of Derivative Works is permitted by the Project within the scope recognized as non-profit fan activities. In addition to observing these Guidelines, we would appreciate it if you could distribute the Derivative Works within the scope of common sense.
The expression “within the scope recognized as non-profit fan activities” refers to cases that satisfy all of the following conditions. If any of the following conditions are not satisfied, you need to obtain permission by separately submitting an in-advance application.
The expression “small amount of compensation” used above is defined as satisfying the following conditions in each case. The Derivative Creation Activities conducted within the following conditions do not require any application, inquiry or payment of royalties.
A. When holding an event and selling fan publications and fan goods
The total number of products sold does not exceed 800 products and the expected net sales (production quantity × selling price (excluding tax)) are 400,000 yen or less for the total number of products sold at a single event. However, the definition of “single event” used above means (1) “offline event held during a predetermined period”, and (2) “sales of products on fan EC sites and fan stores left over from the event of (1) above”, and the combined total of (1) and (2) needs to satisfy the foregoing conditions.
B. When selling fan publications and fan goods without holding an event
The total number of products sold does not exceed 400 products and the expected net sales (production quantity × selling price (excluding tax)) are 200,000 yen or less for the total number of products sold in a year.
If the number of products sold in a year may exceed 400 products in a service where the expected sales volume cannot be designated, you can suspend the sales or file an application and obtain permission as described below.
C. When engaging in activities that generate a small amount of revenue without any publications, etc.
The expected net sales are 200,000 yen or less for the total number of products sold in a year.
Category C includes those in which compensation is received for writing requests made through the service and the distribution of closed works through paid subscription services in compliance with these Guidelines.
*If it is difficult to calculate the sales of VSPO!, such as with paid subscription services, please make sure to submit your application in advance using the application form.
If you wish to produce works beyond the prescribed conditions in the various activities of Categories A, B, and C above, we will determine whether or not it is acceptable based on our pre-screening and permission system. This determination will be based on the comprehensive assessment of the production volume, selling price and nature of the work and the details of your regular activities, and we may grant conditional permission (by limiting the number of sales or the expected net sales) or suspend sales.
For in-advance applications, please fill out and submit this form. Please note that it may take up to 5 business days for us to get back to you.
Any creation that is done as a hobby and will not generate any revenues from the ultimate deliverables is recognized as a non-profit fan activity. The following are some representative examples.
Nevertheless, for the following activity, even if it does not generate any revenues, please contact the Project in advance using this form.
Please note that we have established separate rules for the illustrators who are in charge of the official character designs of VSPO! members. Please refrain from directly contacting the illustrators concerning this issue.
The following acts are strictly prohibited in the Project.
Even if an act corresponds to the definition of Derivative Creation Activities, it will not correspond to the Derivative Creation Activities permitted by the Project if it falls under any of the following. If you do not observe these rules, we may contact you individually to request the payment of royalties determined by the Company or request the suspension of your Derivative Creation Activities.
Use for profit-making purposes with high business viability, regardless of whether it is paid or free.
*Fan activities will not correspond to this case so as long as they satisfy all of the foregoing standards.
Direct use of the Project’s Original contents (illustrations, videos, audio, music, etc.) in the Derivative creation (copyright infringement).
*These Guidelines do not in any way permit the direct use of official images (illustrations, logos, etc.), videos, audio and music as the Original contents or in the form of mere modifications that do not involve any creativity.
Activity that damages or is detrimental to the image of the Project or the Original contents (including any activity that deviates from the Project’s brand and image).
Activity deemed to be in violation of laws and regulations or contrary to public order and morals of each country, or exceed socially acceptable limits.
Act that infringes upon, or may infringe upon, the rights of the Original contents and third parties.
Use of Original contents or Derivative Creation Activities that involve violent, grotesque or sexual depictions (revised on July 1, 2024).
Act of using expressions that may lead to the misunderstanding that your work is the official content of the Project.
Activity that may lead to discrimination on grounds of race, creed, religion, gender, social status, etc.
Act of using the Original contents or the Derivative Works to promote a particular belief, religion or political stance.
Act of reposting the Original contents on video sharing sites and other media without permission.
Any other act or activity determined by the Project as exceeding the scope of the Derivative Creation Activities.
If you wish to release the “Reposted Video” of a video related to the Project or a highlight clip video, please make sure to submit the following information using this form, and obtain the Project’s permission.
Email address
Channel name/Site name
Channel URL
Applicability of monetization
*We will not use the submitted information for any purpose other than for managing the Reposted Video.
Channels permitted by the Project will be allowed to post the Reposted Videos within the scope recognized as non-profit fan activities, and will be given a permission number. However, channels permitted by the Project must also observe the following conditions.
Activities will be limited to those that do not correspond to any of the following prohibited acts. For instance, the posting of a video that is merely a cut from the original video or stream is prohibited.
On the Reposted Video, please make sure to indicate the URL or the original video or stream and the permission number granted by the Project in the overview column.
When posting a Reposted Video, please make sure that at least 1 hour has elapsed from the completion of the original live stream.
If monetization is being performed in the channel posting the Reposted Videos, please notify vspo-clip@virtual-entertainment.co.jp when the total revenues from the posted videos involving the Project members exceed 100,000 yen per month.
We may request the deletion of any “Reposted Video” that is not observing the foregoing conditions.
Please note in advance that we may use the released Derivative Works and Reposted Videos in the Project, free of charge, by featuring them in the live streaming of the Project or social media.
If we decide to officially distribute or commercialize the released Derivative Works and Reposted Videos, the Project will contact you individually to discuss the matter with you.
In addition, please use the X (formerly Twitter) hashtags designated by each member when releasing your Derivative Works and Reposted Videos, as this will make it easier for the Project members to access your Derivative Works and Reposted Videos. However, please note that even if you do not use the hashtags when releasing your Derivative Works and Reposted Videos, we may still use your Derivative Works and Reposted Videos in the manner described above.
Precautions concerning scenarios
Related manga: eSpo☆ 0.2 byo no monogatari
Related animation: 0.2 byo no monogatari
If you wish to excessively reveal spoilers, we recommend that you do it in a closed environment or only with your friends.
Please refrain from adapting the main story into a manga, novel, script, stage play or recitation play.
Various scenarios translated into other languages by the Project will also be handled in accordance with these Guidelines.
If you have any questions after reading these Guidelines, please contact us at the following contact information.
Please note in advance that it may take up to a week to get back to you.
We may not respond to any inquiry concerning the Derivative Creation Activities that are complying with these Guidelines without any trouble. Rest assured that there will be no problems with your activities so as long as they are compliant with these Guidelines.
These Guidelines apply only to “individuals” or “groups without corporate status (including fan groups and circles) that “produce Derivative Works and Reposted Videos” as “non-profit activities”.
These Guidelines do not apply if the main entity is a corporation (including cases where the main entity is substantially a corporation, such as when the production costs are borne by a corporation even if the work is made in an individual’s name).
If you are considering corporate fan activities such as the production, release or distribution of the Derivative Works, please contact us at the following email address.
Email address: info@virtual-entertainment.co.jp
“Information to be included in the email”
・ These Guidelines were established as a guide to ensure the smooth and creative activities of those to engage in the Derivative Creation Activities related to the Project. These Guidelines were not established to form any specific social or political assertion that is not directly related to the Project or those engaged in fan activities.
・ Notwithstanding the provisions of these Guidelines, if the Project deems necessary, the Project reserves the right to exceptionally and individually request individual users to discontinue the use of the Project. Furthermore, the Project will not be responsible for any event arising from such discontinuation.
・ The Company will not be responsible in any way for any trouble arising from the Derivative Creation Activities or Video reposting. Please enjoy the Derivative Creation Activities and Video reposting under your own responsibility.
・ Any and all matters related to these Guidelines shall be governed by the laws of Japan, and the Tokyo District Court shall be the competent court of agreed jurisdiction for the first instance.
We thank you in advance for your continued support of the ‘VSPO! Virtual esports Project’.
Established on December 15, 2020
Revised on October 22, 2021
Revised on July 7, 2023
Revised on July 11, 2023
Revised on September 25, 2023
