Nijisanji's Contract Has Been LEAKED and it's Awful

Legal Mindset: ‪@LegalMindset‬
Formatted Contract: docs.google.com/document/d/1T...
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[@DepressedNousagi]

If you have things you want to correct or additional observations, please comment them in this thread!

[@WintermintP]

I'm not quite sure why people are surprised by contracts like this. In the Japanese music industry, all of this stuff is pretty par for the course (although that's what makes everything that much worse and this is all the more reason why I've been pursuing the idea of DIYing my own record label instead)

[@ksx612]

​@@WintermintP Because it is predatory af. Yeah, I know even Prince was a Slave for record Label. So was Taylor Swift, and it's all bs. Indie better dude.

[@GiligamerMC]

one correction would be that article 6 isn't about not doing work for third parties, it refers to not HIRING third parties to do some part of the work (subcontracting them). For example if you were to have them join you in your vtuber activities in any way, delegating any part of the work, that would not be allowed unless with permission. Of course, that technically could also apply to collabs with third parties if you consider them as "subcontracted for it", as you said, but it's just not written as "the main purpose" of the article.

[@DepressedNousagi]

@@GiligamerMC i see I see. Thats interesting thank you

[@vonrich2614]

I wouldn't put zion on the thumbnail so it's not implied she leaked it

[@Yggdrasill59]

So, to summarise, they provide absolutely no support to their talents whatsoever and are just here to collect the money. Riku should have worked in insurance.

[@The_Observant_Eye]

Not even insurance is this bad, right? Unless the insurance terms you signed are also this bad...

[@Jrdmxd]

@@The_Observant_EyeIf only Eggnsn could take over the insurance companies they wouldn’t be as bad.

[@bashamd96]

​@The_Observant_Eye From my experience, insurance is still worse than this granted I'm biased cause I just got approved for something after 2 years of fighting

[@GameBreaker1055]

They are wha machinima was

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

Tbh that's exactly what we expected. Riku is a horrible employer.

[@alexmercer5965]

Bruh, this basically says “We own you but we’re not responsible for you and don’t have any obligation to support you.” One of the biggest reasons to join a company is for the team support. It’s like they think “you have the great honor of joining our prestigious company after being a nobody and we’re paying and supporting you enough with our brand exposure.” Smells like soulless, corporate hubris. Can’t believe Tazumi outright said something along the lines of “it’s a shame our talents leave after we helped them realize their potential” when this confirms they don’t do jack to help.

[@jesuszamora6949]

I was about to say, the only damn reason in the world to join an agency is to have support. That's it.

[@mohaa556]

Honestly seeing this contract being an indie nobody seems like an upgrade compared to working for Niji.

[@annierminx]

@@mohaa556 Indie will always be the better option unless it's in comparison to a company known for being actually good

[@mohaa556]

@@annierminx Well yeah compared to a company like Niji being indie is far superior, but there are positives to joining companies that actually treat their talent as human beings and not like money printing machines.

[@dextokuyasu]

Niji is the corporate version of “we’ll pay you in exposure”, which yes is more than as an indie, but I still can’t pay rent or lease, insurance, groceries, loan payments, etc. in f’ing exposure. And the fact they can take an entire months earning away if they decide you oopsied? Good god this is bad all over.

[@LegalMindset]

Sueing you for Legally Minded.....Damages are to like and subscribe 😂

[@jasperdecastro5215]

Based LegalMindset

[@muhammadrizkysopiansyah447]

Wow, you're so cool to expose them like that😂😂😂, sorry if my English crappy, not the best language

[@flewPpp]

Taking money from an employee as a form of penalty for a mistake is literally illegal in most countries. This contract is insane.

[@gitamic2287]

It is in China and more horrific, at least in webnovel industry until a few years ago where there was protest by writers against a Tencent branch, the company who holds the complete IP rights of your work decides to make a movie without your consent, does not require your input on any part, loses money on it and you are required to pay for their loss.

[@GreyIsolet]

​@@gitamic2287 No wonder they pander so much to the Chinese market, especially when all the Hololive thing back then happened

[@acmenipponair]

@@gitamic2287 Well as Niji first was in China even before JP started I wouldn't wonder if Riku just copy pastad the slave contract his chinese lawyers wrote for him for the first livers to the rest of the world, not realizing, that this contract is illegal in most countries of the world, as we are literally not a communist shithole like West Taiwan.

[@SUNNYSUZUKISAN]

I love how niji fell from a top vtuber agency to a wactor student

[@gabrieltopam7129]

Now that's a sad reference. I miss them wactor girls

[@hirotakasugi4891]

It was never a top one. Black company from the beginning. Most of their hires are lewd baiters, fetish baiters, etc. very few have actual talent. Like how the hell did a groomer even get in then fujo bait with AsMR? Or the other known bullies in the other branch? Lol

[@ashurad_fox5991]

Wactor Scholar* They probably had a masteral degree certificate too

[@ashurad_fox5991]

@@hirotakasugi4891 he probably meant one of the well known Vtuber agencies, since they are. (Before they became an infamous agency starting like 2-3 years ago, then it blew up these past few months) As a black company only though, they are just one of many which doesn't make them remarkable.

[@hirotakasugi4891]

@@ashurad_fox5991 yeah but after the first 2 years when you hear Vtuber in the english speaking sphere it’s usually the Holo girls. I guess I never spent enough time in the lewd baiter sphere to hear the name nijisanji being used as the first though when vtuber comes out.

[@Gilicus18793420blazingfury]

"Who would in a right mind would want to sign this contract?" 1.) Vtubers who are desperate to be recognized in the vtuber industry 2.) Contractually illiterate or not fluent in corpo language. 3.) They simply don't read the contract. (too lazy or don't care) 4.) Can't afford a lawyer or have someone read the contract for them. 5.) Limited response time / couldn't get their lawyers to read through the whole thing in time. 6.) Guillable and inexperienced VTubers. 7.) YOLO / F**k it, we ball / What's the worst that could happen??

[@SKaede]

5.) They only have 3 hours to read and respond to the contract.

[@Gilicus18793420blazingfury]

@@SKaedewhen they respond on time, management would leave them on read for like 2 weeks before actually responding.

[@Neil_Manta]

6) "What's the worst that could happen?"

[@Kuruyami]

Something very big to bear in mind -- for a lot of these people, if they were particularly good at 2), or felt comfortable putting out the money for 4), they would likely be a lot less reliant on getting into a company like NijiSanji. Niji is, in essence, specifically targeting people who likely do not have the funds, knowledge, or means to avoid being bullied by them.

[@lostnemesis]

I think number one is the most important because being an independent talent is very difficult because some people find a niche that allows them to grow quickly other people don't have a niche like that so they're fighting against the tide and they feel like they're losing, Number one is really the most important because if you're more gaming or talk oriented it probably is going to be very difficult for you.

[@eddebrock]

Judge: "You say this person is bound by the contract?" Niji: "Yes." Judge: "But they didn't sign it." Niji: "Exactly!"

[@ashurad_fox5991]

Judge: "That's not how it works though" Niji: "Yes it is in our company, if they don't sign this contract... Then they had given permission and shall agree to sign the Silencing contract" Judge: "That doesn't make sense" Niji: "We don't know or care"

[@platinumhawke]

It gets better. In the contract it's stated that legal proceedings will happen in Tokyo, because Anycolor knows it's shit will get ripped in any non Japanese court. Absolutely buck wild.

[@ashurad_fox5991]

@@platinumhawke Maybe that's why Niji is pushing other branches to be absorbed to the main branch (like what happened to ID, and make those talents sign a new contract in-line with the JP branche's terms) Since if this contract got caught wind on the country where those international talent's live. Then Niji would be in huge trouble, and this contract would seriously shredded legally. (I know, because my parent's workplace is is a japan based manufacturing company for car parts that expanded to where I live, but they still follow laws here on my country.) Niji screwed up big time.

[@ThatchNetherfold]

@@ashurad_fox5991 Also Niji: **slaps judge and lawyers with money** Just shut up and do your job. Keep the court going if they complain.

[@Szaruta_Rawr]

This is actually very common in a lot of businesses (big and small), it's a non-verbal contract and is still legally binding. Even if you don't sign, your continued participation within the company is considered compliance. Basically, because you continue to work there (without questioning the contract), you are agreeing to those terms. Edit: just wanted to add I don't agree with this method

[@AbystomaMexicanium]

Vox "You Can Leave Any Time" Akuma

[@SoubiYumea]

Well technically he wasn't wrong... ...you just have to pay them a ton of cash to buy yourself out and be okay with being slandered for all of the internet to see! Seems negligable right?

[@jack90054]

@@SoubiYumea Not even that, we know there's literally a graduation queue because Niji doesn't want too many people graduating too close to one another. So you can apply to leave, but WHEN you actually leave is an entirely different issue.

[@SoubiYumea]

@@jack90054 There is that too indeed... Really leaves me wondering if the 'black video' actually was a 'hostage' situation. And also if some of the talents maybe have some sort of Stockholm Syndrome....

[@Pokemaster-wg9gx]

​@@SoubiYumeaits less stockholm syndrome and more their communities and friends on top of the idea that getting to play games for a living is better than retail or fast food

[@DefectivePotato95]

By Japanese law livers are "employees" based on how much control the company has making almost half of this contract illegal as it tries to convert an employee into a contractor.

[@solitarelee6200]

That can be illegal in the states too. If an employer treats you as an employee not a contractor, like trying to control your hours or adding extra responsibilities not in your contract, you can (generally successfully) sue to be counted as an employee, which means they owe you benefits and wages BACK DATED to when you started contracting for them. I have successfully threatened many a client with this exact thing to get them off my back as a contractor. And a non-compete clause DEFINITELY makes you count as an employee, how would that work for contractors exactly as a contractors whole business model is built on working for different people one after the other or simultaneously. There's a lot of this willful misclassification of employees happening around the world right now and it's only going to take one good match of a lawsuit to burn it to the ground.

[@stoffni]

@@solitarelee6200Yeah, half of that contract wouldnt hold up in any western court, including the non-compete clause.

[@raeoverhere923]

@@solitarelee6200 I'd been wondering about the status of the liver's employment since people started saying Selen was fired illegally; like, do livers count as employees, or are they independent contractors? It always felt to me like they leaned contractor, just based on the vtuber industry as a whole, but they're beholden to an absolute ton of rules about when and how they can conduct their business/activities, which sounds pretty "employee" to me.

[@OzixiThrill]

@@stoffni The non-compete is almost the single clause that would actually hold, honestly. The MOST that any court would do with that clause is point out that the company owes a certain amount of money to the talent if they want to enforce said clause.

[@andrehashimoto8056]

Non compete are moot the moment the contract is thrown off and deems unenforceable or the Judge deems the terms far too excessive. A HALF YEAR forbidden from taking another contract with another Corpo on the field can be deemed excessivez especially given Vtubing is an ENTERTAINMENT BASED field, you can't force an entertainer to be out of the game for this long without actual legal justification

[@FantasiA2K]

"Party B shall procure the Materials, etc. under its own costs and responsibility" "In the event of [termination], Party B shall immediately return the Materials, etc. to Party A" Excuse me what

[@Bulletz-gl9pb]

That is the ridiculous shit I've ever read in my entire life, like the fuck- imagine you enter a company and buy something to your own need/matetials/tools using YOUR OWN FUCKING MONEY and after you get FIRED, the company demand to TAKE your MATERIALS you BUY by your own MONEY to them. What kind of demon that write this type of contract...

[@IShrimpShark]

​@@Bulletz-gl9pb riku tazumi the yacht man

[@alexlowe2054]

You know, I previously considered Wactor a worse company than Niji, because Wactor forced some of their talents to take out loans to pay the company for projects, and I thought "There's no evidence that Niji is taking money from their talents, they're just giving them a horrible profit share". But we just got evidence that Niji is also directly charging talents to work for them. I'm not so sure that Niji isn't just as bad as Wactor. It's literally the same types of abuses, minus the sexual favors. That we know of. With all the horrible things coming out of Niji, I'm expecting even more horrible news in the next few months. Remember that Wactor graduated basically every single Talent, all 40+, within a year after everything started becoming public. More horrible news came out after the floodgates opened and everyone started talking and investigating. Niji already fell a long way, but they still have a long way they can keep falling.

[@Poglavnit_Pferdefuhrer]

Honestly depending on your outlook sexual favours *could* have been seen as a unethical positive, since the average person would proceed with a favour exchange, aka "sleeping your way to the top" (aka Riro Ron) That isn't what happened _in this case_ but it could have actually been a positive if Wactor wasn't already Black.

[@Poglavnit_Pferdefuhrer]

Actually on that note, if you want a positive instance, go look up some interviews with women *who worked for Atari,* _that absolute mad Chad Bushnell installed a Jacuzzi right in their corporate office_ you *know* some crazy hijinks went on there! 😅 Instead of "casual" days they had _bikini days_ where they all got in the tub together during lunch, *da faq kind of corpo-college culture is that?* 😂

[@BeepBoopBee]

HOLD THE FUCKING PHONE! Am I correctly understanding that the company can fire you for not doing your obligations like a voice pack or did they genuinely just write down that they can fire you and then still demand you do the obligations like a voice pack? Because if it's the latter option, that's incredibly fucked up and that just sounds incredibly illegal. Just how it's fucked that they won't let you graduate without signing an NDA contract that completely silences you. You don't sign, you get fired. But now it's suggested that you can get fired and still be forced to do the work even though you are no longer employed by them? Remember when the "message from Nijisanji" video dropped during Dokis neopets stream and people joked about it sounding like hostages? Well, this contract makes it sound like you sign up to be a damn slave. Trapped and tortured, only released on their terms. Nijisanji sounds like a terrifying, PTSD inducing place to work for. And the fact that they can literally just not pay you and that being within their right to do so is definitely not helping them beat the slavery vibe. I already had Nijisanji on the blacklist of companies I never want to work with, but this absolutely confirmed that and really makes me start to wonder whether wactor or Nijisanji is the one I should be avoiding most

[@maxaslagolis]

And they wrote they can take a 50% penalty basically at will. Which means at their discretion they can simply choose to not pay you. I am almost certain that under US law these contracts are literally criminal.

[@SorarikoMotone]

both, but wactor is unique in that niji operates like most japanese corpos. wactor? way, way worse

[@GameBreaker1055]

I mean, they can try to do it after you left, but what are they going to do? They cannot exactly threaten you with anything once they don't pay you anymore

[@nicksjacku9750]

This is how all Japanese businesses run in Japan this is their work ethic

[@nicksjacku9750]

​@@maxaslagolisit's JP law and it's corrupt from the beginning.

[@kirk1552]

start counting 6 months after mika and pomus graduation

[@MICHAELTUMANGDAY]

That proves how salty Niji gets when a rival company acquire's their former talent and ends up being successful.

[@Gilicus18793420blazingfury]

i wouldn't put it pass them to be petty as fuck and made up a new rule so that any graduated / terminated liver can't debut as an indie for a year prob

[@kyuven]

Doesn't have to be. The EN contract probably doesn't include that because several US states have outright bans or heavy restrictions on non-competes in contracts. You'll notice that Nina and Mysta graduated in July and August and then MAGICALLY two people who sound JUST LIKE THEM premiered in October, well before 6 months had passed. And both Zaion/Sayu and Selen/Dokibird were back on their old personas within DAYS of getting terminated.

[@ksx612]

Pomu is bidding her time for sure. 100% Vshojo cuz Henya and Zen.

[@Tamachii12]

Holding someone for 6 months is kinda of illegal imo, so they can't work on their field during 6 months ? how they are going to live ?

[@Fs3i]

One thing that is interesting from this: because Nijisanji owns everything (including the character, and any original songs you create, ...), the fact that use copyrighted material from another liver is entirely unproblematic to them. If I'm Selen, and I use assets, the voice, or anything of Pomu that she did as a VTuber, Niji owns that. There's no reason why Nijisanji can't immediately say "yes" or "no", no matter if the talent has graduated or not. Niji owns that content, and therefore, they can decide what do with it. It's really really weird to use "used stuff from other livers" as a reason for termination (e.g. with Sayu), because like -- the harmed party is not another liver. It's Nijisanji. It's so weird.

[@typeoddnamehere2362]

That's the really bizarre thing about this. I remember seeing a live review of a TV show called Robotica (it's similar to Battlebots/Robot Wars) where a team entered a robot into that competition called Hot Wheels. The host of that show was concerned about the name until the builders revealed that they worked for Mattel at the time. Nobody complained about the name since. What's even more ridiculous is how they were seemingly blindsided by the MV when it's been in the works for well over a year, and the people in question left a few months before the MV was posted. Why did nobody internally think in those months that this was an issue?

[@SorarikoMotone]

welcome to jp corpo culture - the amount of paper trail and hierarchy needed to follow is insane there. there's a reason jp anime production system is so terrible

[@KommissarAlexander]

This was never about copyrights, just an excuse to punish and bully Selen.

[@albertoandrade9807]

So.... yagoo lost knows how much money because of all the rushia refunded merchandise and kurosanji can keep milking selen's body?

[@ZeroXSEED]

@@SorarikoMotone No kidding. Even Hololive has this problem, and this is a company with talent as primary interest and business second. JP bureaucracy is insane. I would NEVER work in Japanese company unless I'm literally dying without their money.

[@pajama5868]

no wonder matarakan was so shocked vshojo managers actually help her, niji managers dont do a single thing apparently !! its all on the livers !!!

[@Saincisco]

"You belong to them forever", is that gave me a whiplash when I heard it. The fact that if I work for Niji and 10 years later I say the words "I'm Pomu" , they can see that as a breach of contract in the future.

[@klopferator]

Holy moly, Nijisanji basically straight out say they are not obligated to protect, support, or even pay their talents. I also can't imagine that all provisions are legal. Demanding the right to "information" without specifying what kind of information seems to be too vague to enforce and is certainly illegal in my country, and I don't believe other countries like the US or Japan don't have similar limits.

[@jesuszamora6949]

Oh the US would strike down half this contract, it's just it has to be ajudicated, and Niji clearly sees it as better to chuck the talent out the door than to contest anything. This is why they terminated Sayu and Doki, and why they let K9Kuro and Matara Kan go to VShojo sooner than their 6 months. They want to avoid precedent while preying on the more gullible talent.

[@nicksjacku9750]

Japan doesn't which is why their work industry is a heaping fucking mess.

[@devaridproject30]

This is the downside of the NDA, as long as you don't reveal it you'll be fine.

[@paperluigi6132]

I’ll be genuinely surprised if NijiEN is still standing by the end of the year.

[@kinglightning5256]

Literally vox staying in nijisanji en is delaying the inevitable of nijisanji en joining the official branch.

[@rafaelfigfigueiredo2988]

​@@kinglightning5256 was thinking about that. If they could do to ID i wouldn't put it past them to merge everyone and started axing the ones in the hundreds of viewers

[@MrGeneralissimus]

Hopefully anycolor follows

[@SorarikoMotone]

sadly wont unless jp's will care. which i have mega doubt about teh numbers....@@MrGeneralissimus

[@jesuszamora6949]

@@rafaelfigfigueiredo2988That's all but certain. They're only ever going to get desperate, low-quality talent from here on out if they stay. Best to just take the favorites and bring them to the main branch, cut everyone else off and call it a day.

[@kinglightning5256]

To this day nobody cannot convince me that nijisanji is not a black company. Literally your manager can F up and it would be your fault plus way more bad things. I know people want clout and people will sign that contract but signing with nijisanji especially nijisanji en now your not guaranteed little clout nijisanji en reputation is so bad i don't think you can get over 40k subscribers after your debut and be known enough to be a successful indie. Only way I'm signing that slave contract if I'm guaranteed clout like hololive members.

[@Limegreenedragon]

Didn't I say that accountability was NOT in Kurosanji dictionary?

[@AkaSora96]

Oh definitely the last wave had a rough debut and that was before the whole Selen drama happened, now imagine debuting after.

[@kinglightning5256]

​@AkaSora96 I'm calling it now the new nijisanji en wave will only 15k or 20k people watching there debut and all them will struggle to get 800 or 700 or less viewers to watch there streams and they'll rarely get superchats. That's why I ask what's the point on signing that slave contract.

[@ArcaneMaiden]

​@@kinglightning5256I saw a Niji Liver (not saying who because I like her) having 340 something. Sayu had 3x of that at the same time (I know because I was pestering her & Rennie XP), so, yea.

[@kkhlufris]

​@@ArcaneMaidenwhite braided hair with glasses

[@danielbritoperez]

I'm pretty sure neither Kuro nor Matara waited 6 months to join Vshojo. Even Nijidarkness must know that part of the contract would be impossible to enforce in the west

[@rafaelfigfigueiredo2988]

Dearsqn(pomu) is also streaming every other week so i think not even she is going for it

[@velfare]

depends if both side mutually agreed to dissolve the contract

[@PhoenixClank]

@@rafaelfigfigueiredo2988 Deerskin isn't in an agency

[@rafaelfigfigueiredo2988]

Who'd deerskin? Autocorrect?

[@Finalras]

@@rafaelfigfigueiredo2988Pomu

[@LynnLyns]

Riku: Don't worry investors, this leak is going to be negligible, please stop selling your actions.

[@Mxlan_u]

Sounds like the corporate incarnation of "we'll pay you in exposure"

[@MICHAELTUMANGDAY]

Jesus Christ! This Contract literally screams "Swear Loyalty to me".

[@SilverNightbane]

All that's missing is the blood pact and sacrificing a baby. Even the Devil himself would give you a better deal than this.

[@Jokoko2828]

@@SilverNightbane Uncle Stan at least gives you benefits for selling your soul to him.

[@SilverNightbane]

@@Jokoko2828 My point in full.

[@RWhite_]

Nijisanji is a cult.

[@tinchaulee]

And there is one term inside the contract using the term "betrayal" lol

[@TailsTheFoxy]

In my country this contract would be mostly illegal and a big breach of a lot of work- related laws. (especially Article 27 of the contract)

[@ceresbane]

One thing to note with black companies in regards to article 10. They may lend you items that were already broken or near breaking and then expect you to reimburse them on the damages for reporting the damaged item or they get it back broken (when it was received broken in the first place). There are meant to be checks and balances for this but there isn't any real oversight so a corrupt middle manager might pull this scam for some passive income. Especially towards talents that already internally have a bad rep or on their way out. So Niji might not do this. But would you honestly be surprised when the staffers public face is already clearly so vindictively toxic to people they graduate/terminate? Article 13 Hololive also does this. They don't bother with crap like play buttons but Kiwawa once complained that her stream revenue goes to Cover corp. Gets converted to yen and gets sent to Kiwawa's account whereupon she loses a large amount of her money through the bad conversion rate of Yen to Euro. Because the almighty yen is freaking worthless and growing increasingly worthless. So to clarify. Nijisanji isn't unique in that regard. That said. Maybe cover corp should invest in an international branch so they can have money be in USD.

[@HirokaAkita]

I think Hololive will do it soon because of how f'd is the yen rn, and they also will benefit from having the money in dollars. But honestly i think in Hololive's case it is more of a blunder rather than a full blown robbing.

[@Otek_Nr.3]

The usd to euro conversion is certainly better than yen to euro, but it's also not looking all that great atm. But that's a problem you have, when working international....

[@CharlieHoang97]

@@HirokaAkita Or in some cases, it probably just Japan having wacky laws regarding money / payroll.

[@lolkthnxbai]

Just remember, graduation is always an option that you can do at any time! 👹

[@harlster3373]

Genuine question if some aspects of Nijisanji stick with you post leaving the company until Niji dissolves what’s the point of them terminating and graduations if the talents can never truly escape?

[@Gilicus18793420blazingfury]

Gee for someone who has "thoroughly" read some documents, you would think he would know that the graduation as an option is laughably useless now.

[@harlster3373]

@@Gilicus18793420blazingfury what is the point of graduating or being terminated from this company?

[@lonelystrategos]

Le retard de Vox Akuma.

[@tonkk]

Nijinsanji is Hotel California: you can graduate any time you like, but you can never leave.

[@side7oldtype298]

The rainbow was black and white all along.

[@Ardeleus]

there is no white, which implies purity and niceness in this color metaphor context the rainbow is a half-fallen off sticker behind pure void of greed and destruction

[@jesuszamora6949]

No, can't have white in the rainbow, Uki will be mad. No, it's all black.

[@themongoose9184]

WHITE!?!? Mr Uki get down!!!

[@ashurad_fox5991]

There's a white part in the company? Where? [sets render distance to max] Where?

[@Houkashorai]

@@Ardeleus White also means death in a certain culture

[@serina3872]

Now I'm interested in the April leeks some people are talking about

[@Hsecrpntr]

The ride never ends

[@andrehashimoto8056]

Make this mess gets so public it ends entering the JP sphere and KusoSanji is unable to do anything because this kind of information is deemed beneficial to the Public, also being an Unsigned Contract Draft means there's no legal recourse about it.

[@Einscrest]

​@@andrehashimoto8056 JP stock bros already know about LM's stream regarding the contract leak.

[@AoyagiMei]

As someone who works a normal job I could never imagine signing this. Reads like a slave contract.

[@kyuven]

I imagine the EN (especially USA) contract looks a helluva lot different, because some of this is straight up illegal in the USA. For example, several states have restrictions or outright bans on non-competes, so that 6 month thing is out the window (and certainly seems to be the case for Mysta, Nina, Zaion, and Selen as they returned to the public sphere in only a few months, or a few DAYS in Sayu and Dokibird's case)

[@doriansookochoff9768]

I would wager in Sayu and Doki's case it is because they talked to lawyers early on and found out how unenforceable these are. Had the other two spoken with lawyers, I would imagine they would've been back ASAP as well. Though for those two, it probably worked out having to wait a bit, since they were both helped out with their new lives.

[@luk4s195]

I thought this was an EN contract? Why else would it be in english

[@Ardeleus]

... translations that end up becoming popular amongst EN audience because they don't speak jaapnese? ​@@luk4s195 not saying it IS the JP contract or whatever, but its also fully possible that its translated

[@GravitasZero]

@@luk4s195​​⁠ Contract written up by a Japanese company, but that just so happens to be in english (translations exists without changing the contents necessarily). Having lived in Japan (was almost born there, most of my family speaks fluent Japanese) you, if you’re a foreigner, do NOT want to live/work there or work there 😂 People have different theories about why that company has done so terribly when it comes to PR… they fail to simply take into account that it’s a (black) Japanese corporation applying the usual Japanese (black) corporation handbook for dealing with these situations… but that doesn’t work in the West, as they have painfully come to learn.

[@CareerKnight]

Legal Mindset is the only one who knows where this is from but judging by the way he was talking about it on his stream this is an EN contract.

[@xXx_Regulus_xXx]

A friend of mine once tried out for Niji and these days I am SO happy she didn't make the cut. Working for these folks seems worse than being an indie.

[@Gilsao157]

Unironically, in my country, because they can withold your earns at their discretion and put you in debt and control your work freedom, this contract could be deemed similar to slavery and would be not only a civil matter but a criminal one also

[@silly118]

This contract breaks at least 3 major laws in my country lol.

[@diegoemanuel8641]

Just 3?

[@Grason20]

​@@diegoemanuel8641just the major ones, there might be other laws broken that can be considered minor crimes there.

[@diegoemanuel8641]

@@Grason20 that's just the rest of the contract

[@DragonxFlutter]

So, when do we cancel Kurosanji so hard they dissolve and free the livers from their corporate slavery?

[@eunhyuekpark6159]

Predatory contracts for talent who don't know better or are willing to do anything to become a facility/company backed vtuber. Its sad to see.

[@kkhlufris]

So Joining nijisanji benifits are: 1 Your voice is heard. 2 not meaning, what you have to say is heard But Your audible is heard

[@himikotoga3]

You won't gain anything Buuuuut, People will know what you sound like!!!

[@Eric-vs2he]

Niji can't stop fucking up

[@mohaa556]

Bruh, this is like being an indie, but most of the money you make just vanishes, all the trophies, plaques, etc you ever earn become some random japanese dude's office decorations and said japanese dude can just decide where you have to live or if you even get any money in a given month. At this point calling Nijisanji a black company is an insult to black companies...

[@McDudes]

2:34 Niji sanji be like alright give us your bank and credit card info. Also your personal identity information 💀

[@BadTurtle7]

Not stepping into/managing disagreements between your contractors/employees is an absolutely foolish policy. As management, the reason you want them to be forced to come to you to settle it is so you DON'T have a Selen situation with any and all backlash spilling out into the public. Stock holders should question why this is being done with the talent since just such an issue has caused a loss in stock value.

[@lordjey268]

The contract does not state that noninterference is in fact their policy. A clause in the same section says the liver has to inform the management of any such dispute, so it makes sense they would prefer to be aware of any situation arising and mediate as they deem necessary. The contract just states that they make no promises of actually solving anything or actively mediating, or even lifting a finger if they don't feel like it. Being scammed? Experiencing harassment? A bad argument caused a toxic work environment?Management will try to help you... if they like you. Or "you can always just graduate". But do keep them informed.

[@BadTurtle7]

@@lordjey268 Being informed is not the same thing as managing the situation. Managers can be just a lazy as any other type of employee, and if the standard is just to inform them, they will take the email, read it, and then file it under "Things I don't wan to do".

[@danteredgrave5238]

Just imagine you are in Niji HQ and all of a sudden you get a message that a lawyer goes through your contract live on the tube. I would quit on the spot to get as far away from that shit show.

[@dsuffers3032]

I am now legally minded to read this supposed contract and gasp as I buy Ginebra San Miguel Gin because of how bad this trash document entails

[@nutshot_brawler8466]

Why San Ginebra specifically?

[@pedrosoandrew]

​@@nutshot_brawler8466Just like people buying Corona, some prefer San Miguel.

[@dsuffers3032]

@@nutshot_brawler8466 cheapest gin I can afford that doesn't feel like I am drinking syrup laced alcohol. If I want that, I'd add brown sugar to Gin or Soju

[@HudaefCares]

​@@nutshot_brawler8466It's the Filipino version of "I need a vodka".

[@ArwinAbsinthe]

Gin bilog + Sisig lezzgo

[@Ardeleus]

TLDR: Nijisanji is not obligated to do anything YOU are obligated to pay for Nijisanji's fees if you were "the cause" according to Nijisanji. You can't work any other jobs of the same entertainment type. You have to give most if not all of your money AND all your earnings that isnt money as a talent to Nijisanji. Done. That's the contract.

[@rmalmeida1976]

Why would any aspiring vtuber actually WANT to be a part of Anycolor?

[@KawashiK]

Well, nobody is anymore. Last I checked, their constant wave release stopped for a while now, and probably because nobody wants to join them anymore. Good to know people are seeing what this company truly is.

[@Jokoko2828]

Exposure, becoming part of a big organization is the difference between 3k and 30k viewers.

[@jesuszamora6949]

@@Jokoko2828Do they get exposure, though? Some of the newest people are almost getting nothing for their time. Jokoko's got a good point - if they're not going to promote you or try to build you up, what's the point? I can be at the bottom of the barrel with or without Niji.

[@gokbay3057]

I would have said the name/reputation and reach but well, that has gone to shit recently.

[@frick_____you]

Being associated with other livers that are popular is a great way to boost your popularity. And Niji WAS one of the big two Vtuber agencies. Though I suspect they won't stay on top, as I can't imagine anyone wanting to join them after all this has gotten out.

[@TYR1139]

I am glad of this leak and niji being fricked, hopefully vtubers would learn about being more mindful of the contracts and the companies they are going to

[@ksx612]

Zaion send her regards.

[@Jrdmxd]

@@ksx612Sieg

[@rizkyhidayat147]

Hololive : dare to oppose a Nation for a Dragon Kurosanji : injured a Dragon so they can't freely fly away and pushed it off cliff and still blamed them

[@FALSEPR0PHET]

Holy Shit Dark Contract really exists activated trap card🤣

[@ahgrimnlami4945]

1000 LP is cheaper maintenance than what these are

[@yelkahel38]

[@Mechadeuce]

I've generally been of the opinion that if Nijisanji and the talents got their shit together, apologized and reimbursed those who were deeply affected by them, that that would be the best case scenario. Never mind, sink the yacht.

[@risktorise2103]

If possible,having a lawyer review the contract before you signing it would be wise. Honestly I wasn't that aware the implications on some of these claises.

[@jumnei5159]

Good luck. Sayu tried to do exactly just that and we know how that worked out for her

[@ootoriazumi1349]

Even with the very 1-sided business NDA contracts i used to review for a compliance laboratory dont hold a candle to this crap.

[@SefricFrampus]

I don't know japan, but this is a very illegal contract of employment in USA and Brazil.

[@Ardeleus]

I hope the entire Nijisanji company dissolves. I knew they ran by the numbers over quality humans but this is BAD. Literally the ONLY support Nijisanji gives, is a wikipedia page that shows "you are part of Nijisanji" NOTHING ELSE. NO MONEY NO STRUCTURE NOTHING. AND THEY *TAKE* ALL OF YOUR MONEY. Actual slavery. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

[@ultamaflare]

All this really tells me is that the talents who posted that video did it under extreme duress.

[@kjrv7779]

On today's episode of "50+ shades of Kurosanji"

[@IAm-yg6ml]

bro this is so sad. thanks for making this though

[@macintire5104]

i do not criticise the video itself but could you please change the thumbnail ? I fear that some stupid idiots will take it as if sayu leaked the contract info. EDIT : Thanks for changing the thumbnail

[@mikaellindblad2607]

I have no legal education nor a proper job but even I would NEVER sign somethin like this Niji or otherwise

[@MH4wheel]

You could have your best month earnings wise, and they can just make-up any excuse to slap you on the wrist and keep it all...

[@Bulletz-gl9pb]

At least when you sell your soul to a demon you get something you wish/demand, while Niji give you none but continue to rip your soul 💀💀

[@ichalw4973]

It just doesn’t stop Going Down fr 💀 Meanwhile Hololive’s March schedule is STACKEDD

[@TempestaDominus]

We eating good this march. Though hopefully cover will look at this and improve themselves too. Just saying, even in the cynical corporate outlook, setting up international branch to receive the international money instead of coverting them to Yen is far more profitable.

[@gabrielangelic8070]

I'm not shocked... kind of had this feeling that niji was bad ever since like... a year ago or more. I'm glad you made this video. It's much needed to explain the concequences of joining that shithole. Some could be seriously hurt by those assholes. More people could've been treated badly.

[@nocteexmortis979]

Like I said in Legal Mindset’s video, I have had Devils in Dungeons and Dragons that would turn their nose up at this contract as too one-sided.

[@TheAshholeBoy]

Black Company.

[@ArjunTheRageGuy]

Black Co. Ops/Black Company Ops

[@Orionis_Delta]

EVEN IF this contract might no longer apply as it is a template and thus viable for change, I wonder about a few things: 1) Who was the branch director for the EN Branch (with certainty, not supposition due to GURRAT) prior to the Draconid Termination Incident that allowed such a shitshow to happen? 2) Who in their sane mind approved this contract draft in the first place? 3) Is this contract just as restrictive for the JP Branch, or is it more lax with penalties and the like? I was going to ask about the possibility that EN could be managed by Western company rules instead, but I realized they maybe don't have an overseas building and it's all managed from Japan directly.

[@Orionis_Delta]

It seems I'm live-reacting lmao Basically, READ YOUR FUCKING CONTRACTS. VTUBE CORPO OR OTHERWISE. HAVE A LAWYER AT THE READY FOR WHEN THEY ACCEPT YOU SO THEY CAN CHECK THE CONTRACT WITH YOU. DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING TO CHANCE AND, IF POSSIBLE, CHECK IF THE TERMS ARE NEGOTIABLE. IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN CLEARLY STATE YOU DON'T WANT TO SIGN, THANK FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND L E A V E. No matter how desperate you are, such a chained, cursed-for-perpetuity collar is not worth it!!

[@Anubis72K]

With how racist their talent are it wouldn't suprise me that they're stiff as hell on gaijin

[@fierytigergaming8112]

Branch director was assumed to be Elira (Hell, even I did for a short time), but after doing some digging - I found out their name was actually Yasuhiro Igarashi, the reason people assumed it was Elira was because Igarashi operated behind the scenes so not many people knew about him

[@HikkiNeeto]

6:14 that why ex warabeda meiji and ex gundou mirei said "living on there like living in prison"

[@kunho928]

They run the company like running a pimp ring. WTF

[@wat_aiwan]

Yeah at this point I hope this agency just get disolved or even better, get punished by labour law.

[@cryptomicro]

taking away your pay for a mistake can't be legal even in japan

[@neme-chan]

Well well well, our logical conclusions from facts are now "OFFICIALLY" confirmed. Can we classify every niji simp as a bad person, fire all management and make riku commit bad already?

[@muhamadrizkyananda]

I worried if this contract also applied to the NIJI ID livers. I mean among the graduates, only one that goes to redebut in agency . Others are going indies, flesh, or shift away completely

[@esbendit]

One wierd thing, there seem to be nothing about how a liver would terminate the contract. Atleast where I live, that means that termination notice rules are set by law. I don't think this supposedly international company want to deal with a bunch of local labour laws, so this seems like a glaring ommision.

[@gokbay3057]

I mean there is the rejection of renewal three months prior to renewal thing but correct otherwise there is nothing. There is also no clause I saw about the liver being compensated for damages as well, only Nijisanji/Anycolor being compensated for damages (I probably just missed it because I saw others mentioning it but cannot find it personally on the Google Doc for some reason).

[@RandoAntho]

If I were to tell someone about this whole situation who has no idea what is going on, it would be that Nijisanji is basically Machinima 2.0. Sure, I wasn't paying any attention to it at the time, but a lot of what I've heard and read about Machinima matches up with what Niji is doing, predatory contracts and all. And if they keep going down this path... they could eventually suffer the same fate. I hope they do since Niji has proven time-and-time again that they aren't improving, and I feel like the dam is about to burst (still have no idea what the Nijidoomsday thing is people have been talking about happening in April, but if if the dam were to burst, that'd be my best guess as to when it'll happen)

[@roxrequiem2935]

They can: Tell you where to live Tell you who you talk to Tell you what to talk about Tell you who to work for Tell you to go to training Tell you to lie to your fans Tell you to disclose any information Take away and use any asset you pay for Take over your accounts Take down your streams and videos Take 50% of the original amount in damages for cancelling on an event, even if you get paid 25% or less of it. They can skinwalk your account. Tell you not to stream/public or have a public appearance 6 months after termination. Dock your pay 6 months, which will be waived if you get terminated. You can get terminated according to "Rules of Honor" In exchange for: 200k Yen equipment budget No guarantees of making money No flat salary No flat merch cut No award trophies/play buttons No management guarantee No legal arbitration for internal issues They can take away everything you use for streaming, including those purchased by you but have been downloaded with their proprietary software. These are some parts of the contract that stuck out to me, please tell me if I missed some or misinterpreted some. My friends turned it into a drinking game that we take a shot everytime some BS is in the contract and we were already drunk by article 16.

[@glidingchancelor2214]

I mean, article 24 is kinda interesting if it implies that talent is unable to get information about changes to contract or object to those changes that employer makes to contract, since the company prescripes the method that they have to use to do so. We are altering the deal, if you want to object, please report with written complaint during business hours in Tokyo offices within 14 days. If you do not, we'll take that as consent. This is basic burecrautic bullshit 101, government institutions do this all the time to get out of paying benefits, etc. Just make the process so byzantine that nobody bothers with it.

[@gokbay3057]

Also imagine they change a clause and like you have a stream scheduled tomorrow. You can't even post on Twitter saying it will be delayed because that is also considered consenting to the amendment.

[@SoulsOnly]

In most countries, unilateral changes to contracts are unenforceable.

[@ericp631]

This is why Melissa quit. They changed Mel's contract without their knowledge and when they found out tried arbitration niji pulled this b.s. on them. And nobody believed them and took nijisanji's side.

[@gavinkemp7920]

I'm pretty sure a contract like that would be unenforceable in a lot of countries. For a contract to be valide their needs to be an exchange of good and services. Here it is pretty much saying we don't provide any service but but take your goods. That contract could voided by a lot of courts.

[@Mistress_Sithari]

Honestly surprised Niji didn't ask for the Talents first born with this contract

[@ScarfmonsterWR]

The reason for why somebody would sign contract like that is not that somebody didn't see how bad it was, it might be that they didn't really have any other much better choice. I've seen multiple people claim they've seen contracts from some vtubing companies, and they said they are largely the same. As much as we might praise some companies for being "good" we need to remember that companies are not our friends, and all we know about them is a carefully curated. And I'm only mentioning that last part because I've literally seen people claim that "Corpo X/Y/Z can do no bad, they are the best".

[@merfyn4838]

...Im speechless.... to think i once seriously considered joining that agency...

[@ainzer2903]

Seeing their talents 2-3 years ago and comparing they are now is still unbelievable so It's no wonder you would consider to join them but luckily you're not.

[@Midevi]

Wait so does this mean that Mika's and Selen's awards from Filian's Vtuber awards are in the hands of Niji too, that sucks.

[@ainzer2903]

Well yes, actually yes😊

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

One of the many reasons why you should NEVER betray the Dragoons. They will leave NO MERCY to people like Niji.

[@Poglavnit_Pferdefuhrer]

In retrospect, military terminology makes mucho Grande sense

[@LARAUJO_0]

The 1300$ they offer for debut tech is barely anything. That's just over the price of an iPhone. Hell, the laptop I bought for school costed double that. Also, the 6 month exclusivity clause is interesting. It means either Vshojo got permission from Nijisanji to debut Kuro and Matara after just a few months or there's some loophole they used to get around it (such as the 6 months starting whenever they decided to graduate)

[@bell2269]

And anything you do buy for being a streamer with them with your own money belongs to nijisanji! So it's basically robbery

[@lyravain6304]

What's left now is to see what Vox' parasocials will say in defence of Kurosanji now. I swear, they get more entertaining every time they twist their logic into pretzels so their dear Vox "you can always graduate (unless there's a queue)" Akuma can't be at fault. Their meltdowns are hilarious. They prove precisely why and how serial killers like Ted Bundy got such a high score.

[@JoelDashReed]

I'm worried NijiKuro (legally) and it's mindless hordes (bullying) go against most of the departed. I'm... scared for U-san, Doki, Sayu... well, all of the livers now freed from NijiKuro. 😢😢😢

[@shaoronmd]

6:30 no wonder matara made that content about helpful management. what's the point of being a management company of they're like this? they get all the money but won't give any support. this might as well be modern day slavery

[@ainzer2903]

And its from Vshojo a merch agencies😂 Niji totally black company only losing to wactor😂

[@ArseneaLupin]

So it's like making a deal with the devil... Only the thing you get is a boost in sub count for like 100K guaranteed after debut... And that's basically it, the rest is just open labour and survial of the cunning... Yikes.

[@unironicallydel7527]

Imagine not being able to earn prizes for your hard work bc the company deems it as their hard work and jacks your prizes. wat.

[@ImDaRealBoi]

The kurosanji coaster keeps rolling.

[@sozetsukokai9327]

One minor nitpick: the 14 days referred to changes in the contract. They basically reserve the right to change the contract however they want and you have to object within 14 days. If you do not object OR, and this is the even more effed up part, do any activity related to vtubing, which they can force you to do, you also consent to the changes. So yes, in theory they could send you a amendment of the contract and then force you to go live or tweet something before you can read it and thus auto-accept. Management can also conceivably "skin-walk" on the vtuber's account and do everything without the vtuber even knowing.

[@Vondular]

This is literally the 4th company of Ilhae from Manhwa Lookism

[@BlackCatRedScarf]

It makes me wonder, should stream and social media platforms geo block companies that do not abide to local laws? That's a legit question, since I do believe countries have sovereignty over their own culture and laws, however once you are operating in other places, shouldn't it abide to the labor laws where their target audience is especially if their employees are foreigner? I guess that could make harder indeed for certainly companies to stay operating outside their lands, but it is unacceptable to see foreigners being used as cannon fodder especially under multimillionaire companies while also syphoning cash outside the country without any regards to local laws and local businesses.

[@spencedawg5568]

Dude I was just watching your most recent video and it got taken down while I was watching it

[@edu-tv5ld]

This happened to me too

[@yoman8027]

It's not taken down, it's private. Maybe he committed some mistake editing it and is fixing it.

[@Glaugan]

What? Kurosanji seems to be evolving! Congratulations! Kurosanji has evolved to Slavesanji!

[@Unknown.NotRegistered]

I love the Leagally Minded gag. You gotta keep that up.

[@Chaooo]

5:08 I was pretty rustled by this clause - "how is it even legal for a company to prevent a person from working? this is their livelihood we're talking about!" - so I had to do some digging around on the internet. In the US, non-compete agreements are banned in some states, but as of January 2023, there is a proposal for a rule by the FTC that would ban non-competes at a federal level. In Canada (for Doki's case), they are completely banned UNLESS the company can prove that it is "reasonable" (it must pass a test by the Canadian courts that tests for fairness). So, this clause is not enforceable in some places. It is probably removed when the Talent makes their arguments with their lawyers to get the agreement tailored to fit their requirements, but even if it isn't removed, Nijisanji won't be able to do anything about it if they do decide to continue Vtubing during this 6-month period.

[@NeutralZero00]

Sucks for riku this comes out before the 16. Worst comes to worst they will face some issues with the shareholder and hopefully the jp labor as well😂

[@alexham-kucharski6985]

I’m tempted to say that Niji is more like a yakuza setup rather than an actual company, because this is definitely something that the Japanese Yakuza would do

[@Poglavnit_Pferdefuhrer]

The yakuza actually mellowed out thanks to weebery. They are super obsessed with the horse girl anime 😂 According to the guy who made the pro doki support lists Japanese translation videos are getting extremely negative comments from yakuza about this contract😅

[@dQnQb]

I guess Uki must be thriving being in a company that is the complete opposite of white

[@MKULTRA1999]

“Our talents are irreplaceable…” - Riku Tazumi

[@Zlich0]

"my money machine is irreplaceable"

[@ManaPotionArtisan]

If I recall the livestream, yes they can reimburse for your travel fees to Japan, problem is for how long you have to wait after you issue for reimbursement, if they even reimburse other side costs like food, and if we're basing it on the stories of payments being weeks late then it's a very long wait. Add to the fact that you are also contractually obligated to travel whenever they say so, means that you have to have funds ready for overseas flight, food & lodging at any time.

[@johndilig6719]

The breakdown of Niji's contract should give other vtuber companies, like Cover Corp & VShojo, some hints on what their current & future talents will be looking at when reading their contracts. I hope all these events would become a watershed moment for the vtuber industry, and the changes hereinafter are for the better. ... for all our sakes.