Creator Program Terms of Use

Nekowemon Official operates the Creator Program, which allows individual creators to create and publish works using Nekowemon characters and monetize their creative activities within a certain scope while continuing their creative pursuits.

These Terms of Use establish the conditions applicable to creative activities, monetization, Creator Licenses, and other uses by creators participating in the Creator Program.

Before using the Creator Program, please review and agree to these Terms of Use.

Article 1 (Purpose)

1. The purpose of these Terms of Use is to establish the conditions applicable to creative activities and monetization involving Nekowemon characters by individual creators acting on their own behalf under the Creator Program.

2. Nekowemon Official respects the creative activities of creators inspired by their own ideas and aims to see both creators’ activities and the world of Nekowemon characters expand through the publication and monetization of their works.

Article 2 (Agreement to and Application of These Terms of Use)

1. These Terms of Use apply to all creators participating in the Creator Program.

2. By using the Creator Program pages, content, or other services provided under the Creator Program, creators are deemed to have agreed to these Terms of Use.

3. Matters not provided for in these Terms of Use are subject to the Fan Art/UGC Terms of Use and other related terms and conditions separately established by Nekowemon Official.

Article 3 (Definitions)

The following terms are used in these Terms of Use with the meanings set out below.

1. “Nekowemon characters” means characters for which Nekowemon Official owns or manages the rights.

2. “Work” means illustrations, comics, videos, animations, stories, games, music, and other creative works created by creators using Nekowemon characters.

3. “Creator” means an individual who engages in creative activities under these Terms of Use. In these Terms of Use, such individuals are referred to as “Creators.”

4. “UGC Registered Creator” means an individual creator who has completed UGC Creator Registration as specified by Nekowemon Official. In these Terms of Use, such individuals are referred to as “UGC Registered Creators.”

5. “Creator Program” means the program operated by Nekowemon Official to support creative activities, the publication of works, monetization, and other activities by UGC Registered Creators.

6. “Creator License” means a license for creators who enter into an agreement with Nekowemon Official to engage in personal creative activities or monetization beyond the scope permitted for UGC Registered Creators under these Terms of Use.

7. “Basic Plan” means a plan under the Creator License that permits the scope of use specified for the Basic Plan in these Terms of Use.

8. “Pro Plan” means a plan under the Creator License that permits the scope of use specified for the Pro Plan in these Terms of Use, in addition to the scope permitted under the Basic Plan.

9. “Commercial Creator” means a Creator who has entered into a Creator License agreement. In these Terms of Use, such individuals are referred to as “Commercial Creators.”

10. “Creator Hub” means the creator community operated by Nekowemon Official for creators participating in the Creator Program to publish works, interact with other creators, and engage in other creative activities.

11. “Nekowemon Official” means iwemon store, which manages Nekowemon characters and Nekowemon IP.

Article 4 (Participation in the Creator Program)

1. Individuals who have completed UGC Creator Registration as specified by Nekowemon Official may participate in the Creator Program as UGC Registered Creators.

2. Sole proprietors, representatives of corporations, and other individuals involved in business activities may also participate in the Creator Program in their personal capacity as individual creators.

3. Participation in the Creator Program and use under these Terms of Use are limited to the individual Creator. Such participation or use may not be transferred to, or exercised for the benefit of, any corporation, affiliated company, or other third party.

4. Minors who wish to participate in the Creator Program must obtain the consent of a parent or other legal guardian.

5. Minors who publish or monetize works through external platforms must comply with the conditions established by those platforms, including age restrictions, parental consent requirements, account management requirements, and monetization conditions.

Article 5 (Creative Activities by UGC Registered Creators)

1. In addition to the creative activities permitted under the Fan Art/UGC Terms of Use, UGC Registered Creators may create, publish, and monetize works within the scope specified in these Terms of Use.

2. Activities by UGC Registered Creators must be carried out as personal creative activities by the individual creators themselves.

3. Monetization or use beyond the scope specified in these Terms of Use requires a Creator License or other appropriate license or permission established by Nekowemon Official.

Article 6 (Monetization by UGC Registered Creators)

1. UGC Registered Creators may monetize works using Nekowemon characters through advertising revenue or content reward programs offered by YouTube, TikTok, X, and other platforms.

2. Monetization under the preceding paragraph must remain within the revenue thresholds separately established by Nekowemon Official according to region and other conditions.

3. Revenue thresholds, methods of verification, and other details are subject to the Monetization & License Guide separately established by Nekowemon Official.

4. In addition to the monetization permitted under the preceding paragraphs, UGC Registered Creators may create and distribute doujinshi and other fan-made works for the purpose of recovering production costs, as provided in the following Article.

5. Advertising, PR, promotional collaborations, and other activities undertaken in exchange for compensation or other economic benefits from companies, sponsors, or other third parties are not included in the monetization permitted for UGC Registered Creators under this Article. Creators with a Creator License who undertake Client Work must comply with Article 13.

6. UGC Registered Creators are responsible for monitoring their own revenue and ensuring that their activities remain within the revenue thresholds established by Nekowemon Official.

7. As a general rule, Nekowemon Official does not require creators to submit regular revenue reports. However, Nekowemon Official may request verification of a Creator’s revenue information when necessary to confirm compliance with the applicable revenue thresholds or for the proper operation of the Creator Program.

8. If verification is requested under the preceding paragraph, the Creator must provide Nekowemon Official, to a reasonable extent, with information that allows their revenue to be verified, such as revenue information displayed on the relevant platform.

Article 7 (Cost Recovery for Doujinshi and Fan-made Works)

1. UGC Registered Creators may create and distribute doujinshi, printed materials, acrylic merchandise, badges, stickers, and other fan-made works for non-commercial purposes, provided that the distribution price is limited to an amount that covers the costs incurred.

2. For the purposes of this Article, costs mean expenses necessary for the Work itself and expenses directly necessary for its distribution.

3. The costs described in the preceding paragraph may include printing costs, manufacturing costs, shipping costs directly necessary for distribution, payment processing fees, sales platform fees, and other similar expenses.

4. Event participation or exhibition fees, transportation expenses, accommodation expenses, the cost of purchasing general production equipment, expenses corresponding to the Creator’s own working time or labor, and other expenses that cannot be considered directly necessary for the creation or distribution of the Work are not included in such costs.

5. This Article does not apply to merchandising or sales intended to generate profits beyond the recovery of costs.

Article 8 (Creator License)

1. By entering into a Creator License agreement with Nekowemon Official, UGC Registered Creators may engage in a wider range of creative activities and monetization within the scope specified in these Terms of Use.

2. The Creator License is available in two plans: the Basic Plan and the Pro Plan.

3. A Creator License is granted exclusively to the individual Creator who enters into the agreement. The Creator may not allow any corporation, affiliated company, client, or other third party to use the license, nor may the Creator transfer, lend, or share the rights granted under the license with any such party.

4. License fees, contract terms, payment methods, renewal, cancellation, and other contractual conditions are subject to the terms and conditions presented when entering into the Creator License agreement.

5. Creators who enter into a Creator License agreement are granted Commercial Creator status for the duration of the agreement.

Article 9 (Creator License – Basic Plan)

1. Commercial Creators with the Basic Plan may monetize through advertising revenue or content reward programs as provided in Article 6, Paragraph 1, without being subject to the revenue thresholds specified in Article 6, Paragraph 2. They may use any platform for such monetization, with no limit on the amount of revenue earned.

2. Commercial Creators with the Basic Plan may use YouTube Channel Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, and other membership, subscription, tipping, or fan support features on YouTube approved by Nekowemon Official.

3. Commercial Creators with the Basic Plan may create and publish Roblox and other 3D games in accordance with the conditions specified in Article 11.

4. Under the Basic Plan, monetization methods permitted only under the Pro Plan are not allowed. These include memberships, subscriptions, tipping, and other forms of fan support on platforms other than YouTube, commissions, paid sales or paid distribution of digital works, and other monetization methods permitted exclusively under the Pro Plan.

5. Commercial Creators with the Basic Plan who undertake Client Work must comply with Article 13.

Article 10 (Creator License – Pro Plan)

1. Commercial Creators with the Pro Plan may engage in all activities permitted under the Basic Plan.

2. Commercial Creators with the Pro Plan may engage in the following forms of monetization as part of their personal creative activities:

(1) Memberships, subscriptions, and other forms of ongoing fan support, without restrictions on the platform used;

(2) Tips, donations, and other forms of fan support, without restrictions on the platform used;

(3) Commissions for illustrations and other works using Nekowemon characters;

(4) Paid sales or paid provision of digital works, including comics, illustration collections, novels, music, audio content, videos, and other digital content;

(5) Sales or distribution of paid downloadable 2D games for PC, excluding games distributed or made available as applications for smartphones, tablets, or other devices.

3. The commissions described in Paragraph 2, Item (3) do not include creating new characters for third parties using the Nekowemon design system.

4. Nekowemon characters may not be sold, distributed, or provided as materials or assets that allow third parties to reuse them.

5. The monetization methods specified in the preceding paragraphs apply to creative activities carried out by the individual Creator. Business use by companies, sponsors, clients, or other third parties is subject to Article 13.

Article 11 (Game Creation, Sales, and Publication)

1. Commercial Creators with the Pro Plan may sell or provide paid 2D games for PC as specified in Article 10, Paragraph 2, Item (5).

2. Commercial Creators with either the Basic Plan or the Pro Plan may create and publish Roblox and other 3D games, provided that the games are not monetized.

3. Before selling, distributing, or publishing any of the games described in the preceding two paragraphs, the Creator must register the game content with Nekowemon Official.

4. As part of the content registration process described in the preceding paragraph, the Nekowemon characters used in the game must be reviewed by Nekowemon Official.

5. The review described in the preceding paragraph covers the design and depiction of Nekowemon characters used in the game. The game itself, including its content, systems, story, and other elements, is not subject to review.

6. If Nekowemon Official requests changes to the design or depiction of Nekowemon characters during the review process described in the preceding two paragraphs, the Commercial Creator must make the required changes and obtain confirmation from Nekowemon Official before selling, distributing, or publishing the game.

7. The 3D games described in Paragraph 2 may not generate revenue through in-game purchases, item sales, paid access, advertising revenue, or any other form of monetization from the game itself.

8. Avatars, models, clothing, accessories, and other data relating to Nekowemon characters used in the 3D games described in Paragraph 2 may not be sold, distributed, or provided as materials or assets that allow third parties to reuse them.

9. The 2D games for PC described in Paragraph 1 may not be distributed or made available as applications for smartphones, tablets, or other devices.

10. If the Creator License agreement ends, the Creator must stop any new sales, paid distribution, and monetization of the 2D games for PC described in Paragraph 1. However, users who lawfully purchased the game during the term of the agreement may continue to use the game after the agreement ends.

11. If the Creator License agreement ends, the Creator must promptly stop publishing or remove the 3D games described in Paragraph 2.

Article 12 (Creator License and Commercial Creators)

1. A Creator License is valid only for the duration of the agreement.

2. Commercial Creators may engage in activities under their Creator License agreement only within the scope permitted by their contracted Basic Plan or Pro Plan.

3. Commercial Creators with the Basic Plan may upgrade to the Pro Plan during the term of their agreement.

4. Commercial Creators with the Pro Plan may not downgrade to the Basic Plan during the term of their agreement.

5. Changes, renewals, cancellations, and other procedures relating to the Creator License are subject to the Creator License Terms and Conditions.

6. If the Creator License agreement ends, the Creator’s Commercial Creator status will terminate, and the Creator may not continue any use beyond the scope permitted for UGC Registered Creators.

7. As a general rule, Works created by Commercial Creators under these Terms of Use must not display the “© Nekowemon” notice.

8. If a Commercial Creator wishes to display the “© Nekowemon” notice on a paid game or other Work, the Creator must apply to Nekowemon Official in advance. Nekowemon Official may authorize such use on an individual basis after reviewing the Work and how the notice will be displayed.

Article 13 (Business Use and Commercial Activities with Third Parties)

1. The Creator Program and Creator License are intended for creative activities carried out by individual creators on their own behalf and do not grant corporations or other business entities permission to use Nekowemon characters.

2. Creators may participate in the Creator Program in their personal capacity even if they establish a corporation, become a representative of a corporation, or belong to a corporation or other organization. However, the conditions of use under these Terms of Use or a Creator License agreement do not apply to the use of Nekowemon characters by such corporations or organizations.

3. Creators with a Creator License may undertake Client Work commissioned by companies, sponsors, clients, or other third parties, including production, PR, advertising, promotional collaborations, and other projects using Nekowemon characters.

4. Before undertaking Client Work described in the preceding paragraph, the Creator must contact Nekowemon Official and obtain permission before the project begins.

5. Upon receiving the communication described in the preceding paragraph, Nekowemon Official will confirm that the commissioning company or other business entity has obtained the Character License or other license agreement or permission required for the project.

6. Even if a Creator has a Creator License, the Creator may not grant companies, sponsors, clients, or other third parties the right to use Nekowemon characters.

7. If a company or other business entity wishes to use Nekowemon characters for advertising, PR, merchandising, or other business activities, that business entity must obtain the Character License or other necessary license agreement or permission established by Nekowemon Official.

8. Companies and other business entities must participate in the Creator Hub in order to take part as creators in projects conducted as creative activities within the Creator Hub.

Article 14 (Registration of Accounts Used for Monetization)

1. When monetizing Works using Nekowemon characters under these Terms of Use, Creators must register the social media accounts, video channels, creator pages, stores, and other accounts or pages on platforms used for monetization, using the method specified by Nekowemon Official.

2. UGC Registered Creators must monetize through advertising revenue or content reward programs as provided in Article 6 using the accounts or channels registered under the preceding paragraph.

3. Commercial Creators must conduct monetization permitted under Article 9 or Article 10, including advertising revenue, content rewards, memberships, subscriptions, fan support, commissions, paid sales of digital works, and other forms of monetization, through the accounts, channels, creator pages, stores, or other registered accounts or pages described in Paragraph 1.

4. Creators may not engage in monetization under these Terms of Use through accounts, channels, creator pages, stores, or other accounts or pages on platforms that have not been registered.

5. If Works or sales pages are linked to a registered account, channel, creator page, or store, the Creator is not required to register the URL of each individual Work or sales page unless Nekowemon Official separately requires such registration.

6. If the URL or other information cannot be determined until a Work or sales page is published, the Creator may register such information after publication using the method specified by Nekowemon Official.

7. If a Creator adds or changes any accounts or other pages used for monetization, the Creator must complete the registration or update procedures using the method specified by Nekowemon Official.

8. As a general rule, accounts and other pages registered under this Article must be owned or managed by the individual Creator and used for their own creative activities.

9. Nekowemon Official may request confirmation from the Creator regarding registered accounts or other pages when necessary for the operation of the Creator Program, verification of licensed use, or other purposes.

Article 15 (Works and Rights)

1. Existing copyrights, trademark rights, and other intellectual property rights relating to Nekowemon characters, names, designs, and other elements of Nekowemon belong to Nekowemon Official or the respective legitimate rights holders.

2. As a general rule, copyright in the elements of a Work newly created by a Creator, including illustrative expression, composition, stories, dialogue, and other creative elements, belongs to the Creator who created the Work.

3. Creating a Work, participating in the Creator Program, or entering into a Creator License agreement does not transfer to the Creator any rights relating to Nekowemon characters or other Nekowemon IP.

4. Use of Works incorporating Nekowemon characters is subject to these Terms of Use, the Fan Art/UGC Terms of Use, and other conditions of use established by Nekowemon Official.

Article 16 (Featuring and Use of Works by Nekowemon Official)

1. For the purpose of featuring Nekowemon activities and Creators’ Works, Nekowemon Official may feature or use publicly available Works on its official website, social media, videos, livestreams, at events, in publicity and promotional materials, and through other media operated or used by Nekowemon Official.

2. The use described in the preceding paragraph includes cases where advertising revenue or other revenue is generated through video channels, social media accounts, or other media operated by Nekowemon Official.

3. Nekowemon Official may make minor edits to Works, including resizing, cropping, adding text, and other adjustments, to the extent necessary for featuring or using the Works.

4. Even when Nekowemon Official features or uses a Work, the copyright in the Work held by the Creator remains with the Creator.

5. If Nekowemon Official uses a Work for merchandising, sale, or any other purpose beyond the scope of featuring or publicity provided for in this Article, separate terms will be agreed upon between the Creator and Nekowemon Official as necessary.

Article 17 (Prohibited Activities)

Creators must not engage in any of the following activities under the Creator Program:

1. Using generative AI to generate Nekowemon characters themselves, or creating Works in which AI-generated content constitutes the primary creative element. However, this prohibition does not apply to the use of generative AI as an assistive tool for backgrounds, effects, color correction, composition assistance, or other purposes where the Creator’s own creative work remains the primary element.

2. Creating or publishing 3D models, avatars, or other 3D data of Nekowemon characters, except as permitted under Article 11 or otherwise authorized by Nekowemon Official.

3. Using or providing Nekowemon characters or Works as datasets for AI training.

4. Using Nekowemon characters or Works for NFTs, Web3, or other similar systems.

5. Selling, distributing, or providing Nekowemon characters as materials, templates, assets, or other resources that allow third parties to reuse them.

6. Engaging in merchandising, business use, advertising, PR, sponsorship activities, or other commercial activities not permitted under these Terms of Use.

7. Creating new characters for third parties using the Nekowemon design system.

8. Using Nekowemon characters for political activities, religious activities, antisocial activities, or other activities deemed inappropriate by Nekowemon Official.

9. Using Nekowemon characters or Works in any manner that significantly damages the reputation, brand, or image of Nekowemon.

10. Violating applicable laws, public order or morals, or the copyrights, trademark rights, portrait rights, or other rights of third parties.

11. Engaging in any other activity that violates these Terms of Use, the Fan Art/UGC Terms of Use, or other conditions of use separately established by Nekowemon Official.

Article 18 (Suspension and Revocation of Registration, Status, and Use under Creator License Agreements)

1. If a Creator violates these Terms of Use or other related terms and conditions, or if Nekowemon Official determines that such action is necessary for the proper operation of the Creator Program, Nekowemon Official may suspend all or part of the Creator’s registration, use of the Creator Program, or use under a Creator License agreement.

2. If payment of Creator License fees or other fees payable by the contracting Creator cannot be confirmed, Nekowemon Official will request payment from the Creator.

3. If payment described in the preceding paragraph cannot be confirmed within the prescribed period, Nekowemon Official may suspend the Creator’s use of the Creator License and Creator Program until payment is confirmed. During such suspension, the Creator may not engage in activities under the Creator Program, including advertising revenue and other monetization otherwise permitted for UGC Registered Creators.

4. If payment of the outstanding fees is confirmed after suspension under the preceding paragraph, the Creator may resume use of the Creator License and Creator Program in accordance with the procedures established by Nekowemon Official.

5. In cases of serious violations, repeated violations, or other circumstances where Nekowemon Official determines that such action is necessary, Nekowemon Official may revoke a Creator’s UGC Creator Registration or Commercial Creator status.

6. Nekowemon Official may request modification, suspension of publication, or removal of Works or content that violate the applicable rules, as necessary.

7. If a Creator receives a request under the preceding paragraph, the Creator must take the necessary action within a reasonable period.

Article 19 (Withdrawal and Treatment After Termination of a Creator License Agreement)

1. UGC Registered Creators may withdraw from the Creator Program using the method specified by Nekowemon Official.

2. Upon withdrawal from the Creator Program, the Creator may no longer engage in new creative activities or monetization that were permitted under their UGC Registered Creator status.

3. Works lawfully published under these Terms of Use before withdrawal from the Creator Program may remain publicly available after withdrawal. However, the Creator may not engage in new monetization under the Creator Program or any other use of such Works that is not permitted after withdrawal.

4. Even after withdrawal from the Creator Program, Nekowemon Official may continue to feature or use Works in accordance with Article 16.

5. If a Creator License agreement ends, the Creator must cease any monetization or use additionally permitted under the Basic Plan or Pro Plan and may continue their activities only within the scope permitted for UGC Registered Creators.

6. Games sold, distributed, or published under a Creator License agreement are subject to the provisions of Article 11 concerning their treatment after termination of the agreement.

7. Withdrawal from the Creator Program or termination of a Creator License agreement does not change the ownership of copyright in Works created by the Creator. Copyright ownership is subject to Article 15.

8. Roblox and other 3D games published under a Creator License agreement must be unpublished or removed after termination of the Creator License, in accordance with Article 11, Paragraph 11.

Article 20 (Creator Hub)

1. UGC Registered Creators may apply to join the Creator Hub in accordance with the procedures established by Nekowemon Official.

2. Creators who wish to join the Creator Hub must provide their email address, Discord ID, Works, and other information specified by Nekowemon Official.

3. Participation in the Creator Hub and activities within the Creator Hub are subject to the Creator Hub Terms of Use, Creator Hub User Guide, community rules, and other conditions established by Nekowemon Official.

4. The publication and use of Works, derivative works, collaborative works, recognition programs, and other activities and systems specific to the Creator Hub are subject to the Creator Hub Terms of Use and other related terms and conditions applicable to the Creator Hub.

Article 21 (Registration Information and Communications)

1. Creators must provide accurate information when registering for or using the Creator Program.

2. If any registered information changes, Creators must make the necessary updates using the method specified by Nekowemon Official.

3. Nekowemon Official may communicate with Creators regarding the Creator Program through their registered email addresses or other methods specified by Nekowemon Official.

Article 22 (Relationship with Related Terms and Conditions)

1. In addition to these Terms of Use, use of the Creator Program is subject to the Fan Art/UGC Terms of Use, Monetization & License Guide, Creator License Terms and Conditions, and other related terms, guides, or conditions established by Nekowemon Official.

2. Participation in the Creator Hub is also subject to the Creator Hub Terms of Use, Creator Hub User Guide, and community rules, in addition to the terms and conditions described in the preceding paragraph. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms of Use and the Creator Hub Terms of Use concerning activities or systems specific to the Creator Hub, the Creator Hub Terms of Use shall prevail.

3. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms of Use, the Creator Hub Terms of Use, or other related terms and conditions, and an individual license agreement or its contractual conditions, the individual license agreement or its contractual conditions shall prevail.

Article 23 (Changes to These Terms of Use)

1. Nekowemon Official may amend these Terms of Use in response to changes in the Creator Program, its operating methods, applicable laws, or other circumstances as necessary.

2. When amending these Terms of Use, Nekowemon Official will announce the changes and their effective date on its official website or through other appropriate methods.

3. If a Creator uses the Creator Program after the amended Terms of Use have taken effect, the Creator will be deemed to have agreed to the amended Terms of Use.

Article 24 (Governing Law, Prevailing Language, and Jurisdiction)

1. These Terms of Use and the rights and obligations relating to the Creator Program shall be governed by the laws of Japan.

2. The Japanese version of these Terms of Use shall be the authoritative version. If these Terms of Use are translated into another language and any discrepancy or difference in interpretation arises between the Japanese version and a translated version, the Japanese version shall prevail.

3. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms of Use or the Creator Program shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Niigata District Court or the Niigata Summary Court as the court of first instance.