Thread: Shogakukan secretly hates you.

...Or at least it would seem so. Apparently Hayate no Gotoku creator, Kenjiro Hata, made a note of concern over Shogakukan's crazy strict copyright rules. Seeing how Pokemon is among one of the series they hold ownership too, this obviously applies to the fandom.

The rules, as detailed on the website.

Shogakukan forbids the following unauthorised usages of our publications on the Internet or intranets:

• Posting pictures, in whole or in part, of the binding or pages of our publications.

• Posting the contents or tables of contents of our publications.

• Posting plot summaries or derivative stories and similar based on our publications.

• Posting pictures or photographs, in whole or in part, of our characters.

• Posting your own pictures (illustrations or parodies, etc.) of our characters.

• Modifying our characters (including your own images) or publications for use in software, icons, wallpapers. etc.

• Posting the contents of the Shogakukan homepage (pictures, data, or source) in whole or in part.

The above acts, whether commercial or non-commercial in character, are acts of copyright infringement. Those who do not respect these guidelines may find themselves subject to legal action, so please be warned.


I didn't even know of these "rules" myself, but had it brought to my attention by a Sankaku article detailing the same thing. Regardless, I gotta say this is pretty insane. Now fans aren't allowed to even do their own art? In fact, it would appear the very "copying" of these rules from the homepage is a violation of the copyright itself. :p

Wow... that's a little harsh. D:

Since this isn't specifically about Pokemon, I'm going to move this to Land of the Rising Sun.

Eh... yeah. Just try to stop fandom from creating fan art and discussing about releases. That's a plan destined to fail.

Considering how big the fandom is; they'd probably end up realising it's not worth the effort chasing down a 10 year old kid in Luxemburg for sketching a picture of Red on MS Paint and using it as a wallpaper.

......It doesn't surprise me at the least. ShoPro always been anal about their licenses, this is why most of the Pokemon Abridged series got reported and removed.

This also explain why they're never invited to the Pokemon Company anyways, regardless of their hand at marketing.

A great case of "if the rules are blatantly stupid, ignore them".

And now I know why videos get taken down so often from Youtube by ShoPro. Apparently, they think the fandom is illegal. I wonder if there is a fair use law in Japan?

Oh no, I've been a bad boy. Sue me.

Seriously, those are the dumbest rules I've ever seen. No fandom? Seriously?

The people who made those rules obviously have never been members of the fan community...of anything, let alone Pokemon. They have no idea what they're talking about.

ohnoes I just broke at least three of the rules.

And now I know why videos get taken down so often from Youtube by ShoPro. Apparently, they think the fandom is illegal. I wonder if there is a fair use law in Japan?

No laws that I know of (Japanese law is fairly strict) but the attitude towards doujin by original work creators is pretty tolerant and close to the definition of fair use.

Originally Posted by Nekusagi

ohnoes I just broke at least three of the rules.

Oh no! We have a major criminal here, ShoPro, take them away! THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

Yeah, I'm done.

Posting your own pictures (illustrations or parodies, etc.) of our characters.

I see your stupid rule and raise AMERICAN FAIR USE LAWS HECK YEAH.

I love how my country lets you parody things without worry. :3

Originally Posted by Yotsuba;2967678[LIST

[*]Posting pictures or photographs, in whole or in part, of our characters.[/LIST]

• Modifying our characters (including your own images) or publications for use in software, icons, wallpapers. etc.

I guessing eother one of those rules will apply to avatars meaning everyone is criminal.

But seriously, just how are they going to go after so many people?

They won't. For one thing, American and other non-Japanese sites probably wouldn't be high on their priorities. The only sites I can see this actually having an effect on would be things like Pixiv, but even that's iffy. They'll have a hard time enforcing things online.