{"id":64416,"date":"2025-02-14T10:59:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T01:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/?p=64416"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:09:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T06:09:14","slug":"vtuber-copyright","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide to VTuber Copyrights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_53 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#VTuber_Copyright\" title=\"VTuber Copyright\">VTuber Copyright<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Ownership_of_VTuber_Copyrights\" title=\"Ownership of VTuber Copyrights\">Ownership of VTuber Copyrights<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Ownership_by_the_Original_Creator\" title=\"Ownership by the Original Creator\">Ownership by the Original Creator<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Ownership_by_the_Transferee\" title=\"Ownership by the Transferee\">Ownership by the Transferee<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Ownership_by_the_Secondary_Creator\" title=\"Ownership by the Secondary Creator\">Ownership by the Secondary Creator<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Market_Fees_for_Copyright_Transfer_to_VTubers\" title=\"Market Fees for Copyright Transfer to VTubers\">Market Fees for Copyright Transfer to VTubers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Legal_Remedies_for_Infringement\" title=\"Legal Remedies for Infringement\">Legal Remedies for Infringement<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Claim_for_Damages\" title=\"Claim for Damages\">Claim for Damages<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Injunction\" title=\"Injunction\">Injunction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Criminal_Complaint\" title=\"Criminal Complaint\">Criminal Complaint<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Legal_Strategies_for_Licensed_VTubers\" title=\"Legal Strategies for Licensed VTubers\">Legal Strategies for Licensed VTubers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/internet\/vtuber-copyright\/#Summary_Copyright_is_Essential_for_Both_VTubers_and_Content_Creators\" title=\"Summary: Copyright is Essential for Both VTubers and Content Creators\">Summary: Copyright is Essential for Both VTubers and Content Creators<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VTuber_Copyright\"><\/span>VTuber Copyright<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>VTuber Copyright refers to intellectual property rights that cover VTubers&#8217; digital assets, from their 2D\/3D models to their video media. It allows VTubers to prevent unauthorized use of their personas, models, and streamed content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if someone copies VTuber A&#8217;s model and impersonates them online, having the copyright allows VTuber A to easily take legal action, such as seeking injunctions or claiming damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, copyright is an essential tool for addressing online infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ownership_of_VTuber_Copyrights\"><\/span>Ownership of VTuber Copyrights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this section, we will examine the ownership of VTuber copyrights, which generally falls into one of the following three categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Ownership by the Original Creator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ownership by the Transferee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ownership by the Secondary Creator<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We will explain these three concepts in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ownership_by_the_Original_Creator\"><\/span>Ownership by the Original Creator<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The copyright for illustrations and models generally belongs to the creator, as the law states that the copyright is held by the person who creates the work (the author).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Copyright Act of Japan, Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 2: &#8220;Author&#8221; refers to the person who creates a work.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Copyright Act of Japan, Article 17: The author of a work enjoys the rights provided for in paragraph (1) of the following Article; Article 19, paragraph (1); and Article 20, paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as the &#8220;moral rights of an author&#8221;), as well as the rights provided for in Articles 21 through 28 (hereinafter referred to as a &#8220;copyright&#8221;).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the author of a 3D model is typically its creator, and so the creator holds the copyright to the avatar unless otherwise agreed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ownership_by_the_Transferee\"><\/span>Ownership by the Transferee<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a copyright is transferred, it belongs completely to the new owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consequently, if a VTuber receives full copyrights of an avatar from the creator, including adaptation rights and reproduction rights, they can use the avatar freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another common route is getting a license instead of buying the copyright. In this case, the creator still holds the copyright, and the VTuber uses the avatar under the terms of a license agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legally speaking, these two methods are significantly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you obtain the copyright, you can take legal action to stop anyone from infringing on your copyright. However, with a license alone, you do not have the authority to do so. For example, even if a malicious actor is selling unauthorized merchandise using a VTuber&#8217;s avatar, a VTuber operating under a license cannot directly demand that they stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it is highly preferable for VTubers to secure a full copyright transfer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ownership_by_the_Secondary_Creator\"><\/span>Ownership by the Secondary Creator<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating derivative works without the creator&#8217;s permission is strictly prohibited, as it infringes on two exclusive rights: the adaptation right (the right to alter the work) and the right to integrity (the right to prevent unwanted modifications).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if a derivative work is created with permission, the secondary creator owns the copyright to the new elements they added. This is because copyright law protects these new creative expressions independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if a VTuber commissions a different artist to add new expressions or hairstyles to their existing Live2D model, the copyright for those specific additions belongs to the new artist who created them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Market_Fees_for_Copyright_Transfer_to_VTubers\"><\/span>Market Fees for Copyright Transfer to VTubers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The market fees for transferring copyrights to VTubers vary significantly depending on the creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is ideal for VTubers to acquire a full copyright transfer. However, for creators, transferring a copyright means giving up control over their work completely, which carries considerable risk.<br>Once the copyright is transferred, the original creator of the content can no longer use it as they want. <br>Consequently, the fee for copyright transfer can sometimes be more than double the original commission fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_Remedies_for_Infringement\"><\/span>Legal Remedies for Infringement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this section, we will outline the strategies VTubers can adopt in the event of a copyright infringement. There are mainly three legal paths to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Claim for Damages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Injunction Request<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Criminal Complaint<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We will dissect these three legal remedies in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Claim_for_Damages\"><\/span>Claim for Damages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first remedy is the right to claim damages.<br>In the event of copyright infringement, you can seek damages based on tort liability under Article 709 of the Civil Code of Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Civil Code of Japan, Article 709: A person that has intentionally or negligently infringed the rights or legally protected interests of another person is liable to compensate for damage resulting in consequence.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Injunction\"><\/span>Injunction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The second remedy is the injunction.<br>If your copyright is being infringed or is likely to be infringed, you can seek an injunction to stop or prevent the violation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Copyright Act of Japan, Article 112 Paragraph 1: The author, copyright owner, owner of print rights, performer, or owner of neighboring rights, may file a claim against a person who is infringing or who is likely to infringe the moral rights of the author, the copyright, the print rights, the moral rights of the performer, or the neighboring rights, for the cessation or prevention of such infringement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Criminal_Complaint\"><\/span>Criminal Complaint<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The third remedy is the criminal complaint.<br>Japanese law states that copyright infringers are subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to 10 million yen (approx. $62,000 USD), or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Copyright Act of Japan, Article 119, Paragraph 1: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A person who infringes copyright, publishing rights, or neighboring rights (excluding those who reproduce works or performances for private use as stipulated in Article 30, paragraph 1, including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis in Article 102, paragraph 1, and the same applies in paragraph 3; those who engage in acts deemed to infringe copyright, publishing rights, or neighboring rights under the provisions of Article 113, paragraphs 2, 3, or 6 to 8, including rights deemed to be neighboring rights under the provisions of paragraph 9 of the same article, and the same applies in Article 120-2, item 5; those who engage in acts deemed to infringe copyright or neighboring rights under the provisions of Article 113, paragraph 10, or those listed in item 3 or 6 of the next paragraph) shall be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of up to 10 million yen, or both.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_Strategies_for_Licensed_VTubers\"><\/span><strong>Legal Strategies for Licensed VTubers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, a VTuber operating under a license agreement does not hold the copyright. Therefore, they do not have access to the three legal remedies we have just examined.<br>To address issues like impersonation, it is crucial that both parties agree on countermeasures in advance.<br>For example, to prepare for potential impersonation, it is highly recommended to include a clause that obligates the copyright holder to take action against the infringer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_Copyright_is_Essential_for_Both_VTubers_and_Content_Creators\"><\/span>Summary: Copyright is Essential for Both VTubers and Content Creators<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we explored the importance of copyright for VTubers, its ownership, transfers, and the legal remedies for infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Copyright plays a critical role in safeguarding a VTuber&#8217;s brand identity and preventing disputes. Setting clear contract terms is therefore crucial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VTuber Copyright VTuber Copyright refers to intellectual property rights that cover VTubers&#8217; digital assets, from their 2D\/3D models to their video media. It allows VTubers to prevent unauthoriz [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":64464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[21,43],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64416"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64416"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72878,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64416\/revisions\/72878"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/monolith.law\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}