Guideline
Shikibu World Copyright Guidelines v2.1
2024-12-24 attorney-drafted original + 2026 revision addendum (under review)
English summary — not a legally binding translation
The Japanese version is the authoritative and legally binding text. The Guidelines consist of an original (Sections 1-8, attorney-drafted 2024-12-24) and a 2026 revision addendum (Sections 9-14). This page summarizes both for international holders.
Preamble
These Guidelines set forth the rules for use of copyright and related IP rights in the NFT project "Shikibu World" operated by TAKER Inc., and the character "Shikibu-chan" owned by TAKER Inc.
The purpose is to preserve the long-term consistency of a character born in 2016 while promoting healthy creative activities by NFT holders, and to clarify the policy regarding AI use.
Chapter 1. Fundamental Principle
Supplementary and decorative use only
NFT holders may use the character only as a supplementary or decorative element to their own existing business or activity. Businesses that treat the character as the central element (specialty stores, OEM brands, hero-image advertising, etc.) are outside the scope of this license and must be handled through the BUSON STUDIO contact form.
Chapter 2. AI Use
Prohibited
- Using AI-generated content as the character for distribution, NFT issuance, or commercial use
- Creating or distributing LoRA or similar learning models trained on the character
- Creating voice synthesis models using the character's voice
- Operating AI-VTubers using the character
- Mass, mechanical generation of character images
Permitted (AI Assistance)
- Automatic coloring of human-drawn line art
- Translation and proofreading of existing text
- Image resize, upscale, and noise removal
- Auxiliary background generation (where the character itself is human-drawn)
TAKER Inc. plans to provide an official AI service for holders in the future. Timing and conditions will be announced separately.
Chapter 3. NFT Issuance Restriction
No person may newly issue, list, sell, or transfer any NFT that depicts the character. This applies regardless of token format (full on-chain, off-chain, edition, generative, etc.).
However, secondary transfers of existing Shikibu World NFTs themselves remain permitted.
Chapter 4. Two Licensing Routes
ROUTE 1
These Guidelines
NFT holders (1–49 NFTs) with consolidated annual revenue under JPY 200 million. Supplementary commercial use is permitted without additional consent.
ROUTE 2
Standard Shikibu-chan Agreement
Holders of 50 or more NFTs with consolidated annual revenue under JPY 200 million. Broader use (including the Standard Shikibu-chan generic character design) is possible via an individual contract.
Corporations with consolidated annual revenue of JPY 200M or more, large-scale deployments, and character-centric businesses are outside the scope of these Guidelines. Please contact BUSON STUDIO directly for individual arrangements.
Chapter 5. Revenue Threshold
The JPY 200 million threshold is evaluated based on group-consolidated revenue including parent, subsidiary, sister, and de-facto-controlled affiliated companies. Revenue in foreign currency is converted to JPY at the market rate as of the last day of the fiscal year.
False declarations result in retroactive license revocation and may give rise to damages claims.
Chapter 6. Display Obligation
Holders using the character for commercial purposes must display the official "fanfic Shikibu-chan" logo and an appropriate secondary-use license certificate (1-NFT or 50-NFT edition).
Location-specific display requirements:
- Websites: within the first view, or in header/footer
- Physical stores / kitchen cars: at the entrance, on the vehicle, or at the display
- Products / merchandise: on packaging, tags, or sales pages
- Social media / broadcasts: in the post, profile, or on-screen
Continuous commercial use requires registration on the official directory.
Appendix. Transitional Measures
Existing activities as of the effective date may continue within their individual scope: the three kitchen-car locations (Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka), already-issued secondary-use NFTs, and already-registered "shikibu-" domain names. Expansion (new stores, new product lines, new NFT series, new geographic regions, etc.) is not permitted.
Affected parties must conform to the display obligation and directory registration within three (3) months of the effective date.