Riot Games has officially introduced the new LoL Esports Community Competition Guidelines, which significantly simplify the organization of independent esports events. The changes are aimed at supporting the local and grassroots scene without unnecessary bureaucracy.
The new rules substantially expand opportunities for organizers by removing a number of previous financial and organizational barriers:
Despite the liberalization, the company reserves the right to intervene in the operation of tournaments, and also requires the transfer of certain content rights and adherence to ethical standards:
Riot Games reserves the right to revoke permission or shut down any competition in the event of a violation of established rules, policies, or corporate values.
Key prohibitions for organizers:
Furthermore, the terms stipulate granting Riot the rights to freely use, copy, modify, and distribute content from such events worldwide without additional approvals.
Despite the general simplification, the company has maintained a strict policy regarding prohibited sponsorship categories. Such events cannot be financed by brands from the following industries:
Riot also reserves the right to block any other partnerships if they contradict ethical norms or could harm the reputation of the company and its games. Because of this, the tournament organization model in League of Legends differs significantly from the open ecosystems of other disciplines, where such funding sources are the standard.
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