Hey World Bladers!
We previously touched upon our plans to update our Community Rules to properly clarify our stance on leaks and piracy both on our platform and at our events. Today, we're pleased to announce that the finalised rules for this have now been added to our Community Rules.
In addition, we have also clarified our stance on different methods of profiting from WBO Organized Play events in an update to our Terms of Service and Organizer's Guide.
Please note that these rule changes are effective immediately. We ask that everyone familiarises themselves with these new rules as soon as possible.
Community Rules Update
Posting paid and/or unreleased content
As of today, our Community Rules now include the following clause:
NEW
Our Beyblade Anime & Manga subforum has also been updated with the following forum-specific rules:
NEW
But why?
We appreciate that these may not be popular changes, but we expect all members to diligently follow these rules. This has been essential for us to impose in order to keep Fighting Spirits Inc. (and in turn, the World Beyblade Organization) legally in the clear when it comes to copyright law.
Japan's anti-online piracy law was updated at the beginning of October and, while it doesn't apply to international websites in it's current state, we feel that it is both the safest and best option to support this in it's current state anyway. The fact of the matter is that many of the sites used to share Beyblade episodes or chapters with each other in the past have indeed been unofficial and breaches of piracy, so we would like to show solidarity in this respect by outright banning these.
The bottom line: wherever and whenever possible, you should always support the official releases, whether it's for Beyblade or any other fandom.
Fansubbing groups that have shared their works via our platform, such as Hoshi-no-Yume's work with the Burst anime, have been informed of these changes already. While you will no longer see links to download their episode files, their translated scripts are still permitted onsite and we welcome these to be shared with the community.
Reporting Leaks/Piracy
If you see any posts breaking these rules, please use the Report function and select the new "Contains Leaks/Piracy" option to report it directly to us. We advise against handling the situation yourself and encourage everyone to get our Moderation team involved instead.
Terms of Service/Organizer's Guide/Event Page Template Updates
Terms of Service – Event Profiting Policy
We have made updates to our Terms of Service, Organizer's Guide, and event page template in order to clarify our stance on the various ways in which people may attempt to (intentionally or not) profit from or conduct unapproved contests, raffles, gambling, or betting at WBO Organized Play events.
UPDATED
NEW
Organizer's Guide – Event Profiting Policy
NEW
Event Page Template – Event Profiting Policy & ToS Agreement
In addition to point number eight below, we've also added in number nine to re-confirm each attendees acceptance of our Terms of Service.
NEW
Again, why?
While we don't like imposing these restrictions any more than you guys do, these are essential to keep Fighting Spirits Inc. (and in turn, the World Beyblade Organization) legally in the clear. Many venues, such as public parks, do require the individual seller or the organization to carry a license in order to do a trade, so this is a change to not only protect the organization as a whole, but also yourselves from any potential trouble.
We are careful to note that permission can be requested from the Organized Play team if you feel that selling is fine at your venue, or if you do indeed carry a trading license for that venue. We aren't trying to completely stop the selling of product, but rather moderate it to protect all parties involved.
Where possible, we do recommend performing any transactions away from the event venue, preferably before arriving at the event. The Bey Marketplace subforum does also exist to support online buying, selling and trading, so we also encourage all users to consider using that too.
Questions, Concerns, or Comments?
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the updates posted here, please feel free to reach out to a WBO Staff member privately or post in the Discuss worldbeyblade.org forum if it is an issue which warrants public discussion.
We previously touched upon our plans to update our Community Rules to properly clarify our stance on leaks and piracy both on our platform and at our events. Today, we're pleased to announce that the finalised rules for this have now been added to our Community Rules.
In addition, we have also clarified our stance on different methods of profiting from WBO Organized Play events in an update to our Terms of Service and Organizer's Guide.
Please note that these rule changes are effective immediately. We ask that everyone familiarises themselves with these new rules as soon as possible.
Community Rules Update
Posting paid and/or unreleased content
As of today, our Community Rules now include the following clause:
NEW
WBO Community Rules – Things Not to Do Wrote:Posting paid and/or unreleased content - Posting of any images, videos, article transcriptions, or links showing or giving access to paid or officially unreleased copyrighted material is prohibited. Verbal discussion about such material is OK. Staff reserve the right to remove any such material and warnings may be issued to anyone sharing these on the Platform.
This rule includes, but is not limited to: the posting of pages from CoroCoro magazine and posting links to anime fansubs.
This rule does not include posting photos or videos of official Beyblade products.
Our Beyblade Anime & Manga subforum has also been updated with the following forum-specific rules:
NEW
Beyblade Anime & Manga – Forum Rules Wrote:
- Leaks & Piracy - Please be aware of the restrictions noted in our Community Rules under "Posting paid and/or unreleased content". Posts containing links to pirated or unofficial versions of Beyblade media will be subject to removal with a formal warning. Always support the official release where possible.
- No "Link Begging" - Repeatedly asking/begging for links to access Beyblade anime or manga via illegitimate means is prohibited and is subject to formal warning.
But why?
We appreciate that these may not be popular changes, but we expect all members to diligently follow these rules. This has been essential for us to impose in order to keep Fighting Spirits Inc. (and in turn, the World Beyblade Organization) legally in the clear when it comes to copyright law.
Japan's anti-online piracy law was updated at the beginning of October and, while it doesn't apply to international websites in it's current state, we feel that it is both the safest and best option to support this in it's current state anyway. The fact of the matter is that many of the sites used to share Beyblade episodes or chapters with each other in the past have indeed been unofficial and breaches of piracy, so we would like to show solidarity in this respect by outright banning these.
The bottom line: wherever and whenever possible, you should always support the official releases, whether it's for Beyblade or any other fandom.
Fansubbing groups that have shared their works via our platform, such as Hoshi-no-Yume's work with the Burst anime, have been informed of these changes already. While you will no longer see links to download their episode files, their translated scripts are still permitted onsite and we welcome these to be shared with the community.
Reporting Leaks/Piracy
If you see any posts breaking these rules, please use the Report function and select the new "Contains Leaks/Piracy" option to report it directly to us. We advise against handling the situation yourself and encourage everyone to get our Moderation team involved instead.
Terms of Service/Organizer's Guide/Event Page Template Updates
Terms of Service – Event Profiting Policy
We have made updates to our Terms of Service, Organizer's Guide, and event page template in order to clarify our stance on the various ways in which people may attempt to (intentionally or not) profit from or conduct unapproved contests, raffles, gambling, or betting at WBO Organized Play events.
UPDATED
Terms of Service – Communities, Events & Organizers Wrote:
- By accessing our Platform, you agree not to hold Fighting Spirits Inc. responsible or liable for anything that happens in connection with third-party transactions, services, contests, raffles, interactions with members, or anything in connection with offline in-person gatherings advertised or discussed on the Platform.
NEW
Terms of Service – Communities, Events & Organizers Wrote:
- Advertising the sale of any product or service as well as posting about any contest, raffle, gambling, or betting on any WBO Beyblade Tournament event page is prohibited for all users unless explicitly approved beforehand by Fighting Spirits Inc.
- Selling any product or service or conducting a contest, raffle, gambling, or betting within the venue of a WBO Beyblade Tournament is prohibited unless explicitly approved beforehand by the operator of the venue and Fighting Spirits Inc.
Organizer's Guide – Event Profiting Policy
NEW
Organizer\s Guide – Tournament Management Wrote:Contests, Raffles, and Selling During Your Events
All members are subject to our Terms of Service, including our policy on contests, raffles, gambling, and betting and selling at events.
If you notice someone advertising or posting about these things on your event page, report it to a WBO Staff Member.
If you notice someone conducting these activities within your event venue, you may ask them to stop. However, if you do not feel comfortable or safe doing so, refrain from interacting with them and report it to a WBO Staff Member afterwards.
Event Page Template – Event Profiting Policy & ToS Agreement
In addition to point number eight below, we've also added in number nine to re-confirm each attendees acceptance of our Terms of Service.
NEW
Event Page Template Wrote:Need-to-Know Information
...
8. Contests, Raffles, Gambling, Betting, and Selling Are Prohibited
Advertising the sale of any product or service, as well as posting about any contest, raffle, gambling, or betting on this event page and conducting them at the event without approval by Fighting Spirits Inc. staff is prohibited. Please contact the Organized Play team if you require approval.
9. Terms of Service
All event attendees and users of this website are subject to our Terms of Service.
Again, why?
While we don't like imposing these restrictions any more than you guys do, these are essential to keep Fighting Spirits Inc. (and in turn, the World Beyblade Organization) legally in the clear. Many venues, such as public parks, do require the individual seller or the organization to carry a license in order to do a trade, so this is a change to not only protect the organization as a whole, but also yourselves from any potential trouble.
We are careful to note that permission can be requested from the Organized Play team if you feel that selling is fine at your venue, or if you do indeed carry a trading license for that venue. We aren't trying to completely stop the selling of product, but rather moderate it to protect all parties involved.
Where possible, we do recommend performing any transactions away from the event venue, preferably before arriving at the event. The Bey Marketplace subforum does also exist to support online buying, selling and trading, so we also encourage all users to consider using that too.
Questions, Concerns, or Comments?
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the updates posted here, please feel free to reach out to a WBO Staff member privately or post in the Discuss worldbeyblade.org forum if it is an issue which warrants public discussion.