Overwatch League’s Code Of Conduct Got Leaked

Esports broadcaster Richard Lewis posted a scanned hard copy of what he says is the Overwatch League rulebook today – about two months after commissioner Nate Nanzer said he would but still hasn’t done so. What the 35-page leaked documents show is incredibly sweeping. If these rules are still in place, it means that Blizzard owns the rights to licence and use pro players’ likenesses, backstories, and streams of Blizzard games. The league even has the right to install 24/7 cameras in team houses and practice spaces to create a reality TV show, with cameras everywhere but the bathroom. OWL players still own their own faeces, but that’s about it.

Photo: Blizzard Entertainment

We have asked Blizzard about the authenticity of these leaked documents and whether the rules have changed, but have not yet received a response.

There are two different documents in the leak: The “Player Streaming Policy”, and the league’s official rulebook, which is labelled “Version 1.0”. The official rulebook resembles Blizzard’s other league rulebooks, which were already available to the public, such as the Heroes of the Storm global championship series rulebook and the rulebook for Overwatch Contenders (the game’s minor league). The streaming policy, however, is structured like a question-and-answer guide, each section precipitated by a question, such as: “What are the most important considerations to keep in mind while streaming?”

The opening pages of the streaming policy lay out restrictions on what pro players can do on their personal channels on Twitch, YouTube and so on. The league has a rule against more than two OWL players joining up to play together, because at that point, “they will be deemed to be playing as a ‘team’”. The pros can’t stream any game “during the period of one hour before and one hour after any League event”, which puts a damper on the ol’ streaming schedule, given that OWL seasons run games four nights a week. The streaming of all Blizzard games must be in “standard game modes”, so no weird modifications allowed, and no “cheats” or “any other software that impacts the performance of the game”.

Pro players also are not allowed to stream “any other organised competitive play, such as any tournament or custom game”. That rule applies to any game, Blizzard-made or not. Speaking of which, if they aren’t playing a Blizzard game, the pros had better not say they recommend it, even in passing: “Players may not directly or indirectly endorse the playing or purchasing of any non-Activision Blizzard game in any manner, including by making any calls to purchase or making any statements which constitute endorsement.” So if you aren’t playing Overwatch, be careful about saying you enjoyed it.

When it comes to player politeness on Twitch, Blizzard has some impressive catch-all language here:

In no event may any streaming include any video game content, actions, comments, language or other material that could be expected to bring any Player, the League, any of its Teams, any direct or indirect owner of any Team, any executive or other employee of the League, Activision Blizzard or any of its games, products and services or any broadcaster, distributor, sponsor, licensee or other business partner of the League of any of its Teams into Disrepute.

As for what that “disrepute” might be, it’s described as any activity that results in “scandal or ridicule or shocks or offends the community”. Some examples: “any political, violent, threatening, discriminatory, harassing or defamatory words or actions or encouragement or endorsing of any of the foregoing.” For reference, the legendarily vague NFL personal conduct policy says that everyone must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence” in the league. The NBA doesn’t have anything that vague, but its collective bargaining agreement does allow the league to investigate any “alleged player misconduct“.

Overwatch League pros have to worry about bad behaviour on the part of their fans, as well; they must make “reasonable efforts” towards “discouraging any commentary that could bring any Protected Entity into Disrepute”.

We’re still only on page three, and it’s already quite clear why Felix “xQc” Lengyel isn’t an Overwatch League player any more, given his Twitch antics.

In a section of the streaming policy called “The Off-Limits List”, the league lays out rules about how players can’t accept sponsorships or marketing affiliations with porn sites, gambling and casino companies, distributors of tobacco, hard alcohol, cannabis, non-Blizzard games… you know, all the dirty vices. The list also includes a rule against endorsing “political candidates or ballot initiatives”.

The league has the right to ask players to take down any content they wish, and if the pros refuse to comply, they will be subject to “discipline from the League”. By the way, the League has “the right to use and exploit” any of the pro players’ streams of Blizzard games for “any purpose”, such as advertising. The league can also modify this streaming policy at any time.

The Overwatch League rulebook also includes a code of conduct for player behaviour, kicking off with a section about how the league can decide any and all punishments, which can include “reprimands, fines, suspensions, debarment and/or disqualifications” with the exact punishment getting “determined by the League”. This section does not specify which infractions would lead to which punishments.

Much of the language in the code of conduct bears similarity to the rules in the Overwatch Contenders rulebook. For example, this rule about profane gestures is almost word-for-word: “Team Members and Owners may not use obscene or offensive gestures or profanity in their tags, player handles, game chat, live play communications, lobby chat, shoulder content, interviews, or other public-facing communications of any kind.” (That’s the rule that doubtless led to the punishment of the bird-flipping Joon-yeong “Profit” Park.)

However, while the Overwatch Contenders rulebook has a general provision against “drugs”, the OWL rulebook gets more specific by banning illegal drugs, as well as “alcohol or marijuana”. The rulebook does permit prescription drugs, so long as they’re actually prescribed to the player in question. Unless that prescription is for marijuana.

The code of conduct includes a predictable section outlawing “harassment and discrimination… based on race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other class or characteristic”. Later on, there’s a section outlawing “any false, defamatory, libelous, or slanderous remarks, comments or statements” against the league or any other players, staffers and sponsors. The league has also banned gambling on Overwatch matches, and there’s even a rule against “fantasy esports leagues or games” involving Overwatch, if they involve winning any sort of prize.

The rulebook saves the best for last: The section about how the league owns the rights to turn the players’ entire lives into a reality show, if they so choose. “If the league office elects to create reality programming”, this paperwork grants “the right and licence of the League Office or its designee to film, televise, webcast, photograph, identify and otherwise record each Team Member and his or her daily life activities and interactions with others using persistent, 24/7 cameras that may be placed in the Team House, training facility, competition venue and other locations frequented by Team Members (provided that no such filming or recording will occur in any Team Members bathrooms)”.

Pro players have also granted the league permission to licence their likenesses and gaming handles, and even their “public persona, game play data and statistics, biographical information, backstory, and any streams” of Blizzard games. That licensing deal includes “derivative works”, so if the league decides to make a hit cartoon based on Geguri’s real life story, she wouldn’t see a cent. It’s a “perpetual, royalty-free, fully paid-up, worldwide right and licence (with the right to grant sublicenses)”.

There’s no going back on that one, either. By agreeing to these rules, the OWL pros have waived any “rights of prior review and/or approval of any of the Licensed Materials, Advertising and Commercial Materials or Reality Content”. So if the pros watch the early cuts of this hypothetical reality show and they hate it? Too damn bad.

If this is the real rulebook, it’s a raw deal for the players. Good thing Overwatch pros are taking steps toward unionising.