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LICENSED TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES AND TOURNAMENT LICENSE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Revision date: November 14, 2023
Effective date: November 15, 2023

If your application to host a game tournament involving a game for which Nintendo owns the copyright is approved (“Licensed Tournament”), an approved License Term Sheet and a Nintendo license number will be sent to the email specified in your Licensed Tournament application. It is up to Nintendo’s sole discretion, whether or not a license will be granted to you.

Nintendo grants Organizer a limited license to use the Game for the Licensed Tournament. This license is limited to the Organizer, Game, and Licensed Tournament specified in the approved License Term Sheet. This license is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the approved License Term Sheet and the Licensed Tournament Guidelines below. Nintendo is providing this license without any representations or warranties of any kind. This license will expire on the Tournament End Date specified in the approved License Term Sheet and Nintendo may revoke this license at any time. Organizer may not assign, delegate, or sublicense this license to any other party, provided that a different corporate entity or organization may operate the Tournament if specified in the approved License Term Sheet. Any use of Nintendo Games or intellectual property therein other than as specifically authorized in this Tournament License, the License Term Sheet, and Licensed Tournament Guidelines, is strictly prohibited and will terminate the license granted herein. Such unauthorized use may also violate applicable laws, including without limitation copyright and trademark laws and applicable communications regulations and statutes. Nintendo reserves all rights not expressly granted herein.

Organizer shall comply with, and shall cause the Licensed Tournament to comply with, these Tournament License Terms & Conditions and the Licensed Tournament Guidelines below. If the operation of the game tournament is outsourced to a corporate entity or organization, Organizer is responsible for ensuring that the corporate entity or organization also complies with the Tournament License Terms & Conditions and the Licensed Tournament Guidelines. Organizer shall be solely responsible for all aspects of the Licensed Tournament, including, without limitation, the execution, operation, administration, and promotion of the Licensed Tournaments. If Nintendo or its affiliated companies are subject to any actual or threatened claims, costs, damages, losses, or other liabilities (collectively, "Covered Losses") as a result of or in connection with the Licensed Tournament or Organizer’s or Licensed Tournament participant’s use of the Nintendo Games, then Organizer shall indemnify Nintendo and its affiliated companies from all such Covered Losses and any related costs, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

This license shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any action or proceeding arising from or relating to this license must be brought in Seattle, Washington, and Organizer irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction and venue of any such court in any such action or proceeding. If any part of these Tournament License Terms & Conditions is determined to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that part will be severed, and the rest will remain intact. These Tournament License Terms & Conditions and the Licensed Tournament Guidelines may be updated by Nintendo from time to time. Accordingly, Organizer is encouraged to check for updates regularly.

Licensed Tournament Guidelines

Thank you for sharing your passion for Nintendo’s games, characters, and worlds. Nintendo cares about the community and would like to support individuals who want to celebrate that passion by creating memorable cooperative and competitive play experiences. At the same time, we want to ensure that fans who are doing so are engaging with our games, characters, and worlds in a way that positively supports other fans, players, and Nintendo.

In that spirit, we have created guidelines for corporate entities and organizations acting as tournament Organizers to follow when hosting Licensed Tournaments involving games for which Nintendo owns the copyright (Nintendo Games). Please familiarize yourself with the guidelines below before planning or announcing a Licensed Tournament.

Licensed Tournaments may be hosted only by corporate entities and organizations, or by an individual that outsources the operation of the Licensed Tournament to a corporate entity or organization(Organizer) for individuals participating in tournaments (Participants) and for individuals viewing tournaments (Spectators) provided that (a) the Organizer’s application for a Licensed Tournament has been approved by Nintendo, (b) the Organizer has received a License Term Sheet and Nintendo license number, and (c) these guidelines are followed:

  • The Licensed Tournament must not exceed the scale and scope outlined in these guidelines except when explicitly approved to do so per the terms of an approved License Term Sheet that Organizers will receive if the Licensed Tournament is approved by Nintendo
    • Licensed Tournaments may not generate commercial revenue except as permitted by these guidelines.
    • Tournaments may include up to 200 Participants for in-person tournaments or up to 300 Participants for online tournaments.
    • Organizers may collect entry fees from Participants in an amount not more than the equivalent of $20 (USD) per person.
      • Entry fees collected from Participants may be used for covering the costs of organizing the tournament and towards prizing.
      • Organizers may provide goods and services to Participants as prizes.
      • No prize may exceed a market value of $5,000 (USD) in total or include any of the following prohibited items: items that are illegal, offensive, or inappropriate; illegal products or services, or those that infringe on the rights of third parties’ items that are discriminatory or misleading, gambling-like services, information products such as virtual currency and data, political activities, or advertising of specific belief systems or ideologies; any items or services that may prevent the normal operation of our products or services or impair their safety; any activity that is damaging to Nintendo’s business or brand; goods or services provided by persons selling or advertising the above items or services; medicines or items that may affect your health or body; alcohol, cigarettes, and other age-restricted items; Nintendo products that have not launched in the region where the Licensed Tournament is taking place; products and services targeted for ages older than the age rating of the software used in the Licensed Tournament; weapons and imitation weapon. Note that even within the scope permitted by these guidelines, if there are other restrictions imposed by applicable laws on the provision of goods or the price limits for prizing, you must comply with the conditions of those restrictions.
      • The total value of cash prizing a single Organizer can offer through Licensed Tournaments in a 12-month period must be no more than the equivalent of $10,000 (USD).
    • For in-person Licensed Tournaments, Organizers may collect an admission fee from Spectators of not more than the equivalent of $15 (USD) per person.
      • Admission fees collected from Spectators must be used solely for the purpose of covering costs of organizing the tournament and not used towards prizing.
      • Collecting fees from Spectators for online Licensed Tournaments is not permitted under any circumstances.
    • Organizers collecting fees must publicly disclose all accounting related to the costs of hosting the event promptly, including entry fees, admission fees, and prizes distributed by posting them on a website and/or on social media accessible to everyone.
    • When hosting a Licensed Tournament, Organizers may not receive goods, services, money, etc., from third parties as sponsors except when explicitly approved to do so per the terms of the approved License Term Sheet.
      • If an Organizer is approved to receive goods, services, money, etc., from third parties as sponsors per the terms of the approved License Term Sheet, such approval is subject to any restrictions communicated to you by Nintendo.
    • Only with the prior consent from Participants, can Organizers monetize posting of videos, still images, etc. related to Licensed Tournaments on personal accounts in line with the Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Information Sharing Platforms. The total amount of revenue a single Organizer earns in a 12-month period through these activities should be no more than the equivalent of $10,000 USD.
  • The tournament may use Nintendo game footage or images under the following conditions
    • Organizers may show footage of tournament gameplay at inperson Licensed Tournament venues for games officially launched by Nintendo.
    • Organizers may use captured footage or screenshots of Nintendo Games for any announcement materials of the Licensed Tournament so long as the game has officially launched.
  • The Licensed Tournament is not affiliated with Nintendo and makes no use of Nintendo trademarks or IP except as permitted by these guidelines
    • Licensed Tournaments may state the tournament is licensed by Nintendo, but may not falsely imply Nintendo is associated with, sponsoring or otherwise affiliated with the event, and may not be presented as “official” or “endorsed” by Nintendo.
    • The names of Licensed Tournaments may not contain Nintendo trademarks or IP, such as Nintendo’s company name, logo, product or service names such as game titles, names adopted from Nintendo Games such as character names. This includes any shortened or modified uses of Nintendo trademarks or IP.
    • Other than referencing the game name to indicate which game is being played at the Licensed Tournament, Licensed Tournaments may not make use of Nintendo trademarks or IP, including logos and character art as a part of Licensed Tournament activity.
  • The games used must have been officially launched or service has officially begun in the region where the Licensed Tournament is taking place
    • Pirated or modified versions of Nintendo Games must not be used
    • Games with online play must use the online gameplay services and/or servers officially provided by Nintendo.
  • The Organizer posts the following notices on-site and on tournament websites and other promotional materials:
  • The Organizer adheres to the following additional stipulations:
    • Organizers are responsible for ensuring Licensed Tournaments comply with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, protection of personal information for Participants and Spectators and appropriate parental consent for minors.
    • Organizers must ensure the health and safety of Participants and Spectators to the best of their ability.
      • For in-person Licensed Tournaments, Organizers must implement and maintain industry standard safety and security procedures, that will be strictly adhered to in connection with the Licensed Tournament. Such safety and security protocols shall comply with all applicable laws and best practices, guidelines and protocols, as well as venue guidelines. The Organizer is responsible for reviewing the safety and security protocols with venue management and local authorities and is responsible for ensuring full compliance with the safety security and security protocols throughout the duration of the Licensed Tournament.
    • Organizers will make full efforts to create a Licensed Tournament that is friendly and welcoming to all, and that fully respects the dignity of Participants and will not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind, including based on race, ethnicity, nationality, ideology, religion, belief, origin, social status, class, occupation, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status
    • Organizers will not permit gambling or the use of alcohol or drugs at Licensed Tournaments.
    • Organizers will make sure that Participants and Spectators are of age according to the applicable age rating of the game used in the tournament.
    • For the use of any intellectual property rights owned by a third party, Organizers must obtain permission from those rights owners separately from these guidelines
  • In addition, Nintendo Games may not be used for Licensed Tournaments that:
    • Are illegal or inappropriately conducted, or could be viewed as offensive or otherwise inappropriate, including, but not limited to, tournaments that: violate laws or regulations; infringe on Nintendo's intellectual property right; uses a false license number; interfere with the proper operation or impair the safety of Nintendo's products or services; involve illegally copied or modified game software, game software produced using Nintendo's copyrighted material without Nintendo's authorization, or game software obtained illegally; involve cheating, cracking, unauthorized access, circumvention of technical restrictions, unauthorized modification, or use of objects, tools, or services that enable such cheating, cracking, unauthorized access, circumvention of technical restrictions, or unauthorized modification; use of game consoles, accessories, and software not licensed by Nintendo; use of video, images, sound sources, etc., that cannot be used in regular gameplay, extracted through game software via data mining or other methods; or otherwise violate Nintendo’s Licensed Tournament Guidelines
    • Fail to protect the health, safety and dignity of Participants and Spectators
    • Have sponsors or that advertise or promote any entity, products or services
    • Promote any campaigns or initiatives based on personal or organized opinions, ideologies, or beliefs
    • Include anything that damages the value of the Nintendo brand and Intellectual Property
    • Fail to follow these guidelines
    • Involve anything that Nintendo deems inappropriate

Nintendo reserves the right to take legal action against or cancel any Licensed Tournaments in its sole discretion, including any tournaments that violate or are likely to violate these guidelines, or Licensed Tournaments that Nintendo otherwise deems inappropriate. In addition, we may take measures such as prohibiting individuals, corporate entities, or organizations that violate these guidelines, or engage in other inappropriate acts, from hosting tournaments in the future.

Nintendo is not responsible for any problems that may arise between Organizers, Participants, Spectators, or third parties regarding the operation of the Licensed Tournament. In addition, please be advised that Nintendo will not respond to individual inquiries regarding the guidelines.

If there are special provisions in other Nintendo guidelines applicable to the Licensed Tournament, please follow those guidelines as well.

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