Copyrights

Copyrights Policy

Effective Date: June 5, 2025

Welcome to Otabushi’s Copyrights Policy. This page explains how copyrights are owned, managed, and protected on our platform. Whether you are a creator, reader, or partner, you’ll find clear guidance on rights, licensing, and infringement procedures.

1. Overview

Otabushi S.R.L. (“Otabushi,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a European manga publishing house dedicated to supporting authors and artists across the EU. This policy outlines:

• Who owns the copyrights to manga published by Otabushi
• How artists’ moral and economic rights are respected
• Otabushi’s role in licensing, distributing, and protecting works
• Procedures for reporting and handling alleged copyright infringement
• Our new “Go Self-Published” program for independent creators

2. Ownership of Copyrights

2.1 Artist Rights

• Moral Rights (Droit Moral): Each Artist retains the right of attribution (being credited by name) and the right to object to derogatory modifications. These rights remain with the Artist at all times and cannot be assigned.
• Economic Rights (Droits Patrimoniaux): Under our Collaboration Agreement (Copyright Assignment Agreement), Artists assign Otabushi certain economic rights—such as reproduction, distribution, translation, and adaptation—for their manga works (“Works”). Assignment may be exclusive or non-exclusive, as specified in the signed contract.

2.2 Otabushi’s Role

• Assigned Rights Holder: Otabushi holds the economic rights to publish, reproduce, and distribute the Works commercially, in print and digital formats, worldwide.
• Publisher Credit: Otabushi commits to crediting each Artist exactly as stipulated in the collaboration contract.
• Protection & Enforcement: We monitor for unauthorized use of our published Works and pursue infringement claims under EU and Romanian IP laws.

3. Licensing and Usage

3.1 License to Readers & Customers

• Personal, Non-Commercial Use: When you purchase or download a digital or print manga from Otabushi, you receive a limited, non-transferable license to read, enjoy, and share within your household.
• No Unauthorized Distribution: You may not reproduce, distribute, or publicly display any part of the Work (e.g., photocopying, uploading to unauthorized websites, or sharing files) without express written permission from Otabushi.

3.2 Licensing to Third Parties

• Foreign Publishers & Adaptations: Otabushi may license Works to other publishers, streaming services, or merchandisers. Such licensing agreements follow EU copyright laws (Directive 2001/29/EC, Directive 2019/790) and the terms set forth in each Artist’s collaboration contract.
• Merchandising & Derivative Rights: Rights to merchandise (e.g., apparel, collectibles) or derivative adaptations (e.g., anime, live-action) require separate, written licensing agreements detailing revenue shares, territory, and term.

3.3 Creative Commons & Open-Access Options

• Not Automatically Creative Commons: Unless explicitly stated in a contract, Otabushi does not publish under Creative Commons. Any open-access provisions or shared licensing must be negotiated in advance with the Artist.

4. Protection of Works

4.1 Digital Watermarks and Metadata

• Digital Watermarks: When we distribute digital editions, we embed invisible watermarks or unique identifiers to trace unauthorized copies.
• Metadata Tags: Each digital file carries metadata (ISBN, Otabushi as publisher, Artist name, publication date) to establish ownership.

4.2 Technological Measures

• DRM (Optional): Some digital releases may incorporate Digital Rights Management (DRM) to prevent mass copying.
• Access Control: Paid content links and downloads require user authentication. We employ secure HTTPS/TLS connections and, where applicable, one-time download tokens.

4.3 Enforcement Under EU Law

• EU Directives: We rely on EU Directive 2001/29/EC (“InfoSoc Directive”) and Directive 2019/790 (“DSM Directive”) for digital enforcement, as well as local Romanian Law 8/1996 on copyright.
• Statutory Damages & Injunctions: Infringing parties may face civil claims, statutory damages, and injunctive relief. Otabushi will pursue unauthorized websites, marketplaces, or print vendors to remove infringing content.

5. Reporting Copyright Infringement

If you believe your copyrighted Work (or a Work you represent) is being infringed on our platform—or if you discover an Otabushi publication being used without authorization elsewhere—follow these steps:

1. Send a Notice of Infringement to pu********@******hi.net with the following information:
   • Your full name, email address, and (if applicable) company or Artist name
   • A description of the copyrighted Work, including title, author, and publication details
   • The URL(s) or location(s) where the infringing content is found
   • A clear statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized and infringing
   • A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the owner
   • Your electronic or physical signature
2. We Acknowledge Receipt within 5 business days and provide a reference number.
3. Investigation & Action: Otabushi will:
   • Verify the claim against our records (e.g., the Artist’s collaboration contract).
   • Temporarily remove or disable access to the infringing content, if hosted on our servers, pending resolution.
   • Notify the User who posted the allegedly infringing content and allow them to submit a Counter-Notice under Article 21 of the DSM Directive.
4. Counter-Notice Procedure:
   • If the alleged infringer submits a valid counter-notice (including contact details, a statement under penalty of perjury, and consent to jurisdiction), we will restore content within 14 business days unless the original claimant files a court action.
5. Repeat Infringers:
   • We enforce a “three strikes” policy. Accounts found to infringe copyrights on three separate occasions may be permanently suspended and banned.

6. How Otabushi Handles Reports

1. Preliminary Review:
   • Within 5 business days of receiving a takedown notice, our Copyright Committee verifies contract records, publication dates, and license status.
2. Immediate Takedown (If Verified):
   • If we confirm unauthorized use of a copyrighted Otabushi publication, we remove or disable access immediately, issue a takedown notice to any hosting provider, and notify the User.
3. Notification & Mediation:
   • Otabushi will send a written notice to the alleged infringer, explaining why the content was removed and how to submit a counter-notice if they believe removal was in error.
4. Record Keeping:
   • All infringement notices, counter-notices, and actions taken are logged and retained for at least 5 years for legal compliance and audit purposes.

7. EU and Romanian Legal Framework

• Directive 2001/29/EC (“InfoSoc Directive”): Provides harmonized rules on copyright in the information society, including protections for digital reproductions and online distribution.
• Directive 2019/790 (“DSM Directive”): Updates rules for digital single market, platforms’ liability, fair remuneration for authors, and text-and-data mining exceptions.
• Romanian Law 8/1996: Governs national copyright and related rights, including moral rights, economic rights, and enforcement procedures.
• ONRC Compliance: All changes to Artist membership or CAEN codes are updated with the National Trade Register Office (ONRC). Otabushi’s collaboration contracts reference CAEN codes to reflect each Work’s commercial purpose under EU classifications.

8. “Go Self-Published” Program

Looking to publish your manga chapters independently? Otabushi’s Go Self-Published program offers:

1. Showcase Your Chapters on Otabushi:
   • Submit completed chapters for review. Our team performs
     • Content Check: No hentai; adherence to quality and decency standards.
     • Quality Control: Basic formatting, image resolution checks.
2. No Contract, Keep 100% Rights:
   • You retain full copyright and moral rights to your work.
   • Publish whenever you’re ready; remove your content at any time without penalty.
3. Visibility to Scouts & Publishers:
   • Ongoing promotion to Otabushi’s network. Talent scouts and other publishers frequently review our self-published catalog for potential partnerships.
4. Revenue Share (When Ad Program Launches):
   • Once our advertising program goes live, you can opt in and receive a share of ad revenue generated by your chapters. Details will be communicated in advance.
5. Help Grow the EU Manga Scene:
   • We believe diverse voices matter. By self-publishing with Otabushi, you contribute to a more robust European manga community.

For more information on how to join, visit our Go Self-Published page or email pu********@******hi.net.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Q: Who owns the copyright to a manga once I sign a collaboration contract?
   • A: You retain moral rights. You assign Otabushi the economic rights described in the contract (e.g., reproduction, distribution). Ownership remains yours, but Otabushi holds the exclusive right to commercialize the Work under the agreed terms.
2. Q: Can I withdraw my Work from Otabushi after publication?
   • A: Under most collaboration contracts, once a Work is published, Otabushi retains the right to continue selling existing stock. Future print runs or new editions require mutual agreement. Please consult your contract for specific termination clauses.
3. Q: How do I report someone selling pirated copies of my manga?
   • A: Send a detailed takedown notice to publishing@otabushi.net with proof of ownership (contract, ISBN details). We will investigate and take appropriate action under EU and Romanian copyright laws.
4. Q: What if someone reposts my fan art on their Instagram?
   • A: Otabushi cannot enforce copyright on third-party platforms unless we hold the economic rights. If the fan art is your derivative work of copyrighted material owned by Otabushi, you may request takedown via Instagram’s “Copyright Infringement” form. For Otabushi publications reposted without permission, email us at pu********@******hi.net.
5. Q: How long do I have to wait for Otabushi to process an infringement notice?
   • A: You will receive acknowledgment within 5 business days. If we verify infringement, we will remove or disable access within a further 5 business days.

10. Contact Information

• General Inquiries: co*****@******hi.net
• Copyright Infringement Notices: pu********@******hi.net
• Self-Published Program: pu********@******hi.net
• Privacy Questions: co*****@******hi.net

Thank you for reading.
We appreciate your collaboration and support as we foster a vibrant, legally compliant European manga community. If you have any further questions about copyrights or the self-publishing program, please contact us at co*****@******hi.net.