FU License for Films v1.0 — Core Terms

1. Purpose

The FU License for Films v1.0 (“FU Films”) is a copyright licence designed to encourage the creation of reaction videos, commentary, criticism, discussion, and discoverability for independent films.

The licence grants additional permissions beyond those that may otherwise exist under applicable copyright law, including permission to display the full film within a compliant reaction video.

Nothing in this licence limits any rights that a person may otherwise have under fair use, fair dealing, or other legal doctrines.

2. Definitions

Film

A motion picture, short film, episode, music video, or other audiovisual work that has been explicitly released under FU Films v1.0.

Filmmaker

The person or entity that owns or controls the rights necessary to release the Film under FU Films v1.0

Reaction Video

A video or livestream that incorporates the Film while also including the Reactor’s visible identity and commentary.

Reactor

The individual or entity creating a Reaction Video.

Visible Identity

A face, avatar, VTuber model, mask, or other recognizable persona that viewers can reasonably associate with the Reactor.

Official Title

The title used by the Filmmaker when publicly releasing the Film.

Compliant Reaction

A Reaction Video that substantially complies with the requirements of this licence.

3. Grant of Rights

Subject to compliance with this licence, the Filmmaker grants the Reactor a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to:

• Display the Film in whole or in part within a Reaction Video.
• Monetize the Reaction Video.
• Distribute, archive, and publicly display the Reaction Video.
• Maintain the Reaction Video indefinitely.

4. Conditions of the Licence

To qualify as a Compliant Reaction, the Reactor must:

A. Maintain Visible Identity

The Reactor must keep a Visible Identity clearly associated with the Reaction Video for substantially all of the time during which the Film is displayed.

The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the work is recognizably a reaction and not a substitute re-upload of the Film.

B. Provide Genuine Commentary

The Reactor must make a genuine, good-faith effort to provide commentary, reactions, criticism, discussion, analysis, humour, emotional responses, or other transformative engagement with the Film.

The licence is intended for reaction content rather than passive retransmission.

C. Use the Official Title

The Official Title must appear in the title of the Reaction Video.

The Official Title must be presented accurately and without alteration.

Additional wording, commentary, opinions, promotional language, or criticism may appear before or after the Official Title.

D. Link to the Original Film

Where the platform provides a description field or similar mechanism, the Reactor must provide a link to the original Film near the beginning of the description.

Where no practical linking mechanism exists, the Reactor must make a reasonable effort to identify the original Film and Filmmaker.

5. Criticism and Editorial Independence

Nothing in this licence requires a Reactor to express positive views about a Film.

Reactors remain free to criticize, mock, dislike, review, analyse, parody, or otherwise express opinions regarding the Film.

The title requirements in Section 4(C) exist solely to preserve attribution, discoverability, and the promotional value that forms part of the bargain under this licence.

6. Substantial Compliance

This licence shall be interpreted according to its practical purpose rather than technical formalities.

Minor or accidental deviations that do not materially undermine the purpose of a licence requirement shall not automatically terminate the licence.

Examples may include:

• Minor spelling errors.
• Temporary formatting mistakes.
• Missing links that are promptly corrected after notice.

7. Material Breach

A Reactor may lose the benefit of this licence if they materially undermine its purpose.

Examples may include:

• Deliberately disguising the identity of the Reactor.
• Presenting the Film in a manner that functions primarily as a substitute for the original work.
• Refusing to correct clear compliance issues after notice.
• Deliberately omitting the Official Title.
• Knowingly providing false attribution.

8. Good-Faith Correction

Before treating a Reaction Video as non-compliant, the Filmmaker should ordinarily provide notice of the issue and allow a reasonable opportunity for correction where the issue is capable of being corrected.

This section does not require notice in cases of deliberate abuse, fraud, or bad-faith conduct.

9. Permanence of Compliant Reactions

A Reaction Video that was compliant at the time of publication receives a perpetual licence under FU Films v1.0.

The Filmmaker may not retroactively revoke rights already granted to a Compliant Reaction.

The Filmmaker remains free to:

• Stop using FU Films for future works.
• Release future versions or edits of the Film under different terms.
• Enforce rights against non-compliant uses.

10. Relationship to Copyright Law

This licence supplements copyright law.

A person who chooses not to rely on this licence remains free to assert any rights or defences available under applicable copyright law, including fair use or fair dealing where available.

11. Versioning

A Film released under FU Films v1.0 remains governed by FU Films v1.0.

Future versions of the FU License do not automatically alter rights already granted under this version.