hololive production

Derivative Works Guidelines

  • Derivative Works Guidelines

    • Introduction

      COVER Corp. (hereinafter to be referred to as “We”, “Us”, or “Our” as the case may be) has established these guidelines (hereinafter to be referred to as “Overall Guidelines”) for the creation and use of derivative works so that fans may have the peace of mind to be able to enjoy our content in as many different forms as possible.

      When creating derivative works that comply with these Overall Guidelines, there is no need to contact us for permission.

      For derivative works activities, please refer to the additional guidelines listed in the table of contents. For derivative works that do not fall under any specified categories, please refer to the Overall Guidelines.

    • Definition of Derivative Works

      We consider Derivative Works to be creative works based on our content and created through fans’ own ideas and creativity. Such activities should be undertaken and enjoyed at the creator’s own responsibility.
      We will not exercise our rights in regard to works that we deem to be derivative works, as long as they comply with these Overall Guidelines.

      Please note that we, our affiliates, and our talents may each use or feature your Derivative Works as thumbnails for streams, on social media, or in other related activities.

      * We do not consider the use of our content as is, or with modifications lacking creative input, to be classified as derivative works. Such use does not fall within the scope of these guidelines.

    • Our Requests and Restrictions

      Please comply with the following guidelines regarding derivative works.

      Please be mindful of our talents, and refrain from creating derivative works that they may find unpleasant.
      Please limit your creation of Derivative Works to fan or hobby activities. We prohibit activities conducted for business purposes or by a corporate entity, including, without limitation, cases where a corporate entity bears the production costs or assumes responsibility for the activity, even if the activity is carried out under an individual’s name. We may take legal action, including seeking an injunction or claiming damages.
      Please comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the terms and rules of any relevant platforms.
      When exhibiting, distributing, selling, or accepting pre-orders for figures, garage kits, capsule toys, resin kits, or similar three-dimensional works, whether realistic or stylized, you must comply with all applicable rights-clearance requirements, including the rules of events and sales platforms designated or approved by us, applicable licensing procedures, and event-specific or one-day licensing systems. These Guidelines do not waive or replace any such required procedures.

      Please refrain from creating derivative works that fall under the following categories:

      • Content that is falsely represented as official, or can be misinterpreted or mistaken as official
      • Content that is contradictory to public order and morality, or exceeds what is socially acceptable
      • Content that includes matters pertaining to any particular ideology, belief, religion, or politics
      • Content that seriously damages the image or reputation of our talents, our company, or our content
      • Content that harms the reputation or dignity of a third party, or infringes a third party’s rights
      • Other content that we deem unsuitable

    • Additional Notes

      We do not relinquish our copyright or related rights through these Overall Guidelines. We maintain these rights. In addition, we make no guarantees regarding the use of our content or related derivative works, including any actions that may violate a third party’s rights.
      These Guidelines reflect our policies in accordance with Japanese law. Additional restrictions or obligations may apply under the laws and regulations of each country or region or under the terms and rules of the platforms you use, including platforms provided by third parties. We do not warrant that activities conducted in accordance with these Guidelines will comply with such laws, regulations, platform terms, or the manner in which they are applied or enforced.

      Even if you discover actions that you believe violate these guidelines, please refrain from using this as a reason to attack, condemn, or publicly expose other fans and participants on social media. If you encounter an issue, please consult the event organizers, use the reporting features of the respective platforms, or reach out to our official inquiry desk. We ask for your cooperation in preventing harassment and vigilante behavior among participants.

      We shall not be liable for any dispute with a third party arising from the use of our content or the creation, posting, or other use of Derivative Works.
      We do not respond to individual inquiries regarding specific cases, our criteria for judgment, or any related questions concerning the contents of these guidelines.
      These Overall Guidelines are subject to change without notice. Please ensure that you follow the latest version of these guidelines at all times.

  • Derivative Works Guidelines for Digital Games

    • Introduction

      We have established these Guidelines for digital games created using content provided by us (hereinafter referred to as “Derivative Digital Games”) to clarify the requirements applicable to such games and to encourage our content to reach audiences in a wider variety of forms.

      In addition to these guidelines for derivative digital games, creators should also comply with our Overall Guidelines.

    • Definition of Digital Games

      In these guidelines, a “Digital Game” refers to any electronic program or application whose display or behavior changes dynamically in response to user input via a controller, keyboard, touch interface, or other means.

      Specific examples (including, but not limited to):

      • Games, regardless of whether they are online or offline
      • Worlds or mini-games on third-party Metaverse, VR, AR, or XR platforms
      • Interactive web applications, interactive videos, etc.

    • Requests & Restrictions

      In addition to the “Requests and Restrictions” in the Overall Guidelines, please also comply with the following requirements when creating Derivative Digital Games.

      • If you intend to release a Derivative Digital Game for a fee, you must apply to the fan game support program “holo Indie” described below and obtain approval through its registration and screening process before release.
      • When using third-party materials, including, without limitation, fonts, images, illustrations, background music, music, textures, or source code obtained from asset websites or other sources, you must obtain all necessary permissions from the relevant creators or rights holders and comply with all applicable terms of use, including terms relating to sale and distribution.
      • In principle, we will not respond to inquiries regarding the interpretation of third-party terms of use, etc.
      • Please do not infringe the copyrights, property rights, or any other rights of third parties, even if the material is your own work.
      • The publication and distribution of Derivative Digital Games containing adult content are strictly prohibited.

    • About “holo Indie”, a Game Brand for Derivative Digital Games

      “holo Indie” is a fan-game support program under which games that comply with COVER’s Guidelines for Derivative Digital Games and pass the relevant screening process are released with holo Indie as the publisher.

      For paid games, the program supports creators by returning the majority of the proceeds from such games to them.

      If you wish to release a game through holo Indie, please apply using the form below.

      Application Form

      * If you wish to distribute a Derivative Digital Game for a fee, you must pass the holo Indie screening process and obtain approval.
      * The Overall Guidelines apply to Derivative Digital Games distributed free of charge.
      * Please note that Derivative Digital Games released through holo Indie may be live-streamed by our talents using monetization features on various streaming platforms.

    • Additional Notes

      In addition to the “Additional Notes” set out in the Overall Guidelines, the following provisions apply to holo Indie.

      • COVER Corp. has entrusted CCMC Corporation (“CCMC”; official website: https://ccmc-corp.com/en) with publication, screening, management, and other necessary administrative operations relating to game platforms and associated informational websites.
      • All listings are subject to screening, and an application may not be approved as a result of the screening process. Even after a Derivative Digital Game has been released, CCMC or COVER Corp. may discontinue its distribution without notice if either determines that the game is inappropriate.
      • Further details will be provided in the application form or communicated separately by CCMC.

  • Guidelines for Clips

    • Introduction

      COVER Corp. (hereinafter to be referred to as “We”, “Us”, or “Our” as the case may be) has established these guidelines (hereinafter to be referred to as “Clip Guidelines”) in regard to the creation of clips featuring our talent or video content provided by us so that fans may have the peace of mind to be able to enjoy our content in as many different forms as possible.

      For clips making use of our content, please refer to both the Clip Guidelines and Overall Guidelines.

      Should the clip contain any third-party IPs, copyrights, or such, please ensure that you follow the rights holder’s guidelines and/or terms of use. Additionally, please understand that we will not respond to any individual queries regarding such guidelines and/or terms.

      The Clip and Overall Guidelines do not apply to clips featuring paid content, i.e., members-only videos, concert footage, etc. We forbid the use of such content unless express permission is granted beforehand.

    • Our Requests

      Please comply with the following requests regarding the creation and uploading of clips, as well as the “Requests” listed in the Overall Guidelines.

      • Please list the following information at the start of the clip’s description.
        • A URL link to the original source stream or video (hereinafter to be referred to as “source”).
        • The source’s title
      • Please refrain from uploading clips before the source stream ends and the VOD is made public.
      • Please understand that we may initiate takedown procedures regarding a clip based on its content, thumbnail, and/or other factors.

    • Monetization

      We will not interfere with the use of partner programs or creator programs on video sharing sites such as YouTube, Niconico, etc., any advertising revenue earned thereof, or any other monetization schemes offered by such sites, provided that the aforementioned guidelines, said sharing sites’ terms of use, and all third-party guidelines are adhered to, and no IPs or copyrights are infringed upon.

      * We forbid the registration of any created or submitted clips with Content ID, or any other automated identification system, as your own work.

    • Registration System

      All individuals and/or groups involved in the creation of clips featuring our talent and/or content may register their clip channels with our company using the form linked below.

      If you register, we will generally contact you using the details provided to receive notifications related to our clipping guidelines.
      For instance, we will contact you to request a voluntary deletion before initiating any takedown processes, making it possible to avoid any penalties from the platform.

      Please use this link to register

      * There may be times that we initiate takedown procedures even if you are registered with us.
      * If you do not comply with a deletion request within 7 days, we may initiate takedown procedures.
      * We may cancel your registration with us depending on your clip content, thumbnails, or other factors.

    • Additional Notes

      The “additional notes” in the Overall Guidelines will apply.

  • Guidelines for Fan-Hosted Events

    • Introduction

      We believe that fan gatherings (often referred to as offline meetups) are an essential element of the fan community. We recognize that a wide variety of fan events, including doujinshi conventions, TCG tournaments, and cosplay events, are held both online and offline. We hope that these events will continue to foster a healthy fan community.

    • Requests & Restrictions

      When hosting a fan event, regardless of its scale, we ask that you adhere to the following items in addition to the “Requests and Restrictions” outlined in the Overall Guidelines:

      • Fan-hosted events should, in principle, be organized on a non-commercial basis by individuals or fan circles. However, please contact us in advance if a corporate entity is required to complete necessary procedures, such as when using a venue that does not rent facilities to individuals.
      • Setting an admission fee or distributing goods to cover venue costs and other various expenses is permitted. However, if we deem the use to be for profit compared to similar events, we may request the disclosure of income and expenditures and/or demand the cancellation of the event.
      • Without our prior permission, you must not make any representation that may cause an event to be mistaken for an official or officially authorized event. You must clearly state on the event’s website, social media accounts, and other promotional materials that the event is a fan-hosted event and not an official event.
      • When holding an event, please comply with the various laws, regulations, facility rules, and procedures of the host location (e.g., Youth Protection Ordinances). If minors are expected to attend, the organizer must take full responsibility for implementing measures such as setting appropriate participation conditions, zoning, and age verification.
      • When offering prizes at TCG tournaments or similar events, please ensure you do not violate laws such as the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations or the Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business.
      • Event organizers must take responsibility for handling any issues or accidents that occur during the event. Participants are also asked to protect themselves and act to prevent issues from occurring.
      • Exchanging contact information and interacting with others should be done at your own risk. We hold no responsibility whatsoever for any troubles arising from such interactions. We particularly urge careful judgment regarding actions that could develop into interpersonal issues, such as private relationships or monetary exchanges.
      • When hosting an offline event, please be considerate of the surrounding community. We also ask attendees to act responsibly as members of the fan community.
      • If the event is held outside Japan, please refer to the “Guidelines for Derivative Works and UGC Activities Outside Japan”.
      • Matters not specifically addressed in this section are governed by the Overall Guidelines.

  • Guidelines for Cosplay

    • Introduction

      We welcome cosplay activities by our fans, as a way to enjoy our content in more diverse ways.

      We encourage everyone to feel free to enjoy cosplay within the boundaries of these guidelines.

    • Requests & Restrictions

      • When attending various events in cosplay, please refer to the guidelines and rules of the respective event and venue, and take care not to infringe upon the rights of third parties.
      • Please refrain from excessive sexual expression or expression contrary to public order and morals. We strictly prohibit any expression, photography, recording, or streaming activity, whether online or offline, that violates or may violate applicable youth protection ordinances, laws concerning the unlawful photographing or recording of sexual images and related conduct, the Act on Punishment of Activities Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children, or any other applicable laws and regulations. Cosplay activities conducted in a manner suggestive of R-18 content are also strictly prohibited.
      • If minors engage in cosplay activities, they must obtain parental consent, comply with Youth Protection Ordinances and similar laws, and ensure appropriate expression and behavior.
      • Photographers and general attendees are also requested to comply with relevant laws, facility rules, and the instructions of event organizers and staff.

  • Guidelines for Derivative Works and UGC Activities Outside Japan

    • Introduction

      Among forms of derivative creation, doujin culture in particular has many customs and rules unique to Japan. As creators increasingly engage in activities outside Japan, the number of disputes and related inquiries has also increased. As a general rule, we ask that activities outside Japan comply with these Guidelines in the same manner as activities conducted within Japan.

    • Requests & Restrictions

      • There are many countries and regions with stricter regulations than Japan. Even if an activity is permitted by these guidelines, please ensure that you strictly comply with local laws and regulations. Additionally, we ask that you be mindful of religion and politics, and respect the culture and customs of each region.
      • Please conduct your activities with the understanding that views on copyright law and the content of expressions vary by country and region. Similarly, the understanding and interpretation of doujin culture and its market differ globally. We strictly prohibit activities that we deem to be for commercial purposes. If you are unsure whether your activity may be considered commercial, please contact us in advance.
      • We ask that you refrain from holding fan events outside Japan that reserve a venue exclusively for hololive IP without authorization. However, this restriction does not generally apply to small-scale and non-commercial fan gatherings, such as individual circle activities within all-genre doujin conventions or after-parties.
      • We reserve the right to request the cancellation of any fan event at any time. If we determine that an event violates our guidelines, we will issue an immediate request for cancellation. We will not provide any compensation for losses incurred due to such cancellations.
      • The understanding that doujin activities are conducted at one’s own risk applies overseas as well. Please conduct your activities with sufficient caution. Be cautious of corporations or individuals falsely claiming to be official or falsely presenting an event, collaboration, or other activity as official or officially authorized.

  • Fan Support Advertisement Guidelines

    • Introduction

      COVER Corp. (hereinafter referred to as “We”, “Us”, “Our”, or “the Company” as the case may be) has established these guidelines (hereinafter to be referred to as “Fan Support Advertising Guidelines”) to provide safe and diverse ways that fans can enjoy our content and talents by establishing clear guidelines regarding fan support advertisements. Fan support advertisements refer to any form of fan-operated advertisements posted on train stations, billboards, digital screens, or via any other advertising outlets.
      Fan support advertisements that comply with the Fan Support Advertising Guidelines may be posted without individual inquiries to the Company.

      In addition to these Fan Support Advertising Guidelines, fan support advertisements should also comply with our Overall Guidelines.

      If a fan support advertisement contains content the company does not own the rights to, it should also comply with the terms of use and other guidelines the content owner has published. Please understand that we will not respond to individual inquiries regarding how we interpret third parties’ terms of use and guidelines.

    • Our Requests

      In addition to “our requests” in the Overall Guidelines, please also comply with the following requests when creating and displaying your fan support advertisements.

      • Please refrain from presentations that can be falsely represented as official, or can be misinterpreted or mistaken as official.
      • Please clearly state that the advertisement is fan-operated within the advertisement itself.
      • Please do not use our content as is, or with modifications lacking creative input, in the fan support advertisements.
      • Please do not infringe on the rights of third parties.
      • Should materials used in the fan support advertisement be created by a third party, proper permission must be obtained from that third party prior to its inclusion.
      • Please follow the rules and procedures of the location where the advertisement is to be posted.
      • Please contact us using the form below to post your support ad.

      Please use this link to register
      • Our contact email address is cheeringsupport@cover-corp.com and we will contact you through this email address.

    • Additional Notes

      The “additional notes” in the Overall Guidelines will apply.

  • Guidelines for Use of Music

    • Introduction

      COVER Corp. (hereinafter to be referred to as “We”, “Us”, or “Our” as the case may be) has established these Guidelines for Use of Music (hereinafter to be referred to as “music guidelines” or “these guidelines”) in regard to the use of music content provided by us (hereinafter to be referred to as “Our music”), so that fans will have peace of mind when making use of our music.

      For works making use of our music, please refer to both the music guidelines and Overall Guidelines.

    • Applicable Music

      These guidelines pertain to any original song by hololive production-affiliated talents that is distributed on various music distribution platforms (hereinafter to be referred to as “Applicable Music”). The use of music listed in the provided appendix does not fall within the scope of these guidelines.

    • Musical Derivative Works

      We allow covers, adaptations, and remixes of Applicable Music (hereinafter to be referred to as “covers” for covers, or “musical derivative works” for adaptations and remixes).

      * We consider derivative works to be creations born of fans’ ideas and creativity, based on our music. Therefore, we do not consider the reproduction of our music as is, or with modifications lacking creative input, to be classified as derivative works. Such use does not fall within the scope of the music or Overall Guidelines.

      We allow our music to be performed by DJs, regardless of the above-mentioned rule. However, please be aware that if you are streaming via YouTube, or another video sharing platform, we may be alerted via the Content ID system.

      Furthermore, we do not allow extraction of our talents’ voices from our songs to be used in speech generation, and do not consider this to be derivative work.

    • Use of Applicable Music

      We allow submission of musical derivative works to YouTube, Niconico, and other video sharing sites, as well as SoundCloud and other music sharing sites (hereinafter to be referred to as “Sharing sites”).
      We will not exercise our copyright rights, including related rights, in regard to the creation or submission of musical derivative works as long as they comply with the music guidelines.

      We will not interfere with the use of partner programs or creator programs on sharing sites, or any advertising revenue earned thereof.

      * We forbid the registration of any created or submitted musical derivative work with Content ID, or any other automated identification system, as your own work.

      When submitting musical derivative works, please credit as below.

      [Example]
      Song: Shiny Smily Story
      Artist: hololive IDOL PROJECT

      You can download the source files of our music for covers, or for other derivative creation purposes, from our piapro page (URL: https://piapro.jp/hololive). When using these sound source files, the monetization feature will not be available. You may use the monetization feature when using our registered library of sound source files through YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and other sharing websites.

      If performing as a DJ and/or submitting to a sharing site, please ensure that you have paid the appropriate copyright fees. Should any processing be required, we ask that you process the payment of said copyright royalties appropriately.

      These guidelines do not apply to the sales of musical derivative works on CD, vinyl records, or other physical media, or activities other than posting on a sharing website, such as distributing through a music streaming service. For such use, please confirm with the representative publisher individually.

    • Our Requests

      In addition to “our requests” in the Overall Guidelines, please also comply with the following requests when creating musical derivative works.

      • Please be mindful of our talents, and refrain from creating derivative works that they may find unpleasant.
      • Please limit your creation of derivative works to a fan or hobby level. Do not use your created content for business purposes, or for purposes that can be deemed as for-profit. Furthermore, even if you belong to a corporation, you are welcome to create derivative works of our music, including covers (sometimes referred to as “utatte mita”), provided you comply with these guidelines.
      • Please comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the terms and rules of any relevant platforms.
      • Please refrain from creating derivative works that fall under the following categories:
        • Content that is falsely represented as official, or can be misinterpreted or mistaken as official
        • Content that is contradictory to public order and morality, or exceeds what is socially acceptable
        • Content that includes matters pertaining to any particular ideology, belief, religion, or politics
        • Content that damages our image, or that of our talents or our content
        • Content that damages a third party’s image, or violates their rights
        • Other content that we deem unsuitable

    • Additional Notes

      The “additional notes” in the Overall Guidelines will apply.

  • Appendix – The music listed in the provided appendix DOES NOT fall within the scope of these guidelines.

    [Sakura Miko & Houshou Marine & AZKi]

    • Album: Poppin’ Kiss (Entire Track List)

    [Minato Aqua, Oozora Subaru, Usada Pekora]

    • Hacha-Mecha Miracle

    [Mori Calliope]

    • Ibasho

    [Minato Aqua]

    • KAISOU RESSHA

    [Hoshimachi Suisei]

    • SelfishDazzling
    • 7days

    [Hanasaki Miyabi]

    • Kaikasengen

    [Kazama Iroha]

    • IrohaStep!

    [Gawr Gura (& Casey Edwards)]

    • Full Color
    • Ash Again

    [Moona Hoshinova]

    • Who’s Toxic ? It’s You!
    • Perisai Jitu
    • Taut Hati

    [Tokino Sora]

    • All songs

    [AZKi]

    • End Roll wa Owaranai
    • Tokyo Shandy Rendez-vous
    • FreeGeo
    • Omega Cat
    • Ai fukaku
    • Sincerely
    • Spirits of the Sea
    • Inochi(2024 Ver.)
    • Arigato…
    • map in the cup
    • Chaotic inner world
    • Lazy
    • Operation Z
    • Etranger
    • Entropy
    • My Strategy!
    • Gogo Hachiji no Chorus Song
    • Akenai Yoru ga Attanara
    • Yoru no Rinkaku
    • Shonen yo Wareni Kaere
    • Kagero no Shirabe
    • Yumekuzu Cake

    [SorAZ]

    • All songs

    * Please note that excluded songs may include those currently under confirmation with the master rights holders, copyright owners, or other related parties.

  • Inquiries regarding music usage for the following: Mori Calliope, Kobo Kanaeru, Moona Hoshinova, Blue Journey

    Please check each database of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) and NexTone Inc. before using any music.
    https://www2.jasrac.or.jp/eJwid
    https://search.nex-tone.co.jp/terms?0


    For songs that appear in the search results with the publisher listed as either “Universal Music Publishing LLC” or “Universal Music Publishing – Performance Rights Division”, please kindly contact Universal Music Publishing LLC directly regarding the use of those songs.

    • 2026.08.31 update

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