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Chapter 94: The Prelude to the Copyright Battle
🕑 Added 2025-09-30 11:27:14 +0000 UTCThe atmosphere in Masao Suzuki’s office, the head of the marketing department, was heavy with tension.
Unlike the fervor that had filled the meeting room, this space felt like the nerve center of a strategic command post on the eve of a major battle.
On the wall, a newly hung whiteboard was covered in dense text.
It listed all the robot anime IPs mentioned in the Super Robot Wars: The First proposal, along with the formidable copyright holders behind them.
Sunrise, Toei, Tohokushinsha… each name represented a towering obstacle not easily overcome.
Takuya Nakayama and Masao Suzuki stood side by side in front of the whiteboard, discussing how to approach the licensing negotiations.
Masao Suzuki, a seasoned veteran in marketing and legal affairs, gazed at the names on the whiteboard—particularly giants like Sunrise, a titan in the anime industry, and Toei, a powerhouse in film and television. He took a deep breath, his eyes behind his glasses reflecting an unprecedented seriousness.
“Executive Director Nakayama, this lineup practically encompasses half of Japan’s robot anime landscape,” he said.
“Integrating them into a single game is a challenge akin to waging a true ‘war.’”
Takuya nodded, his gaze scanning each name on the whiteboard.
“Precisely because of that, once we succeed, the impact will be unprecedented,” he replied.
“Mr. Suzuki, this isn’t just a game.”
“It’s a strategic weapon to ensure our new console makes a resounding debut and attracts a broad user base.”
His tone was calm but carried an unshakable resolve.
Masao Suzuki nodded slightly, summarizing the copyright holders on the whiteboard: “The main players are Sunrise, Toei Animation, Voyager Holdings, and Tohokushinsha.”
Takuya nodded and continued his analysis: “On the Sunrise side, beyond Gundam, they have Aura Battler Dunbine, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Blue Meteor SPT Layzner, and even early classics like Invincible Iron Man Daitarn 3.”
“They manage a vast array of IPs, which are relatively centralized, so we can attempt a bundled negotiation.”
“But as we all know, Sunrise is notoriously strict about maintaining the image and worldviews of their IPs.”
Masao Suzuki added, “Sunrise’s executives are known for being old-school and stubborn. Plus, their close ties with Bandai could mean Bandai might interfere.”
“Let’s give it a try first. If Bandai causes trouble, I’ll mention it when I visit my grandfather. After all, I am a Mitsui grandson,” Takuya said, acknowledging Suzuki’s assessment of Sunrise before turning to the Toei-related IPs.
“Toei Animation holds Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, Combattler V, and Voltes V.”
“They’re a veteran animation giant with extensive experience in IP licensing and mature commercial operations.”
“For negotiations with Toei, the key will likely be profit-sharing and demonstrating how we’ll honor the legacy of their classic works, highlighting the immense commercial value and brand impact of this collaboration.”
“Toei prioritizes tangible financial returns and market influence,” Masao Suzuki offered. “They’re open to commercializing their IPs, but their expectations won’t be small. I’ll consult with Director Tada. He has connections at Asahi TV, which could help us establish a line with Toei, showing respect and leveraging our network.”
Takuya’s gaze shifted to a particularly unique IP.
“Space Battleship Yamato.”
“This IP’s rights are uniquely split between Voyager Holdings and Tohokushinsha.”
“That means we’ll need to negotiate with both parties simultaneously, which will be more challenging.”
“But Yamato holds a weight in players’ hearts comparable to any robot anime. Including it in our lineup would significantly enhance the game’s epic appeal and draw.”
Masao Suzuki listened to Takuya’s clear and methodical analysis, feeling a slight easing of his pressure, though his brow remained furrowed.
He looked to Takuya, awaiting the young executive director’s concrete plan of action.
Taking a deep breath, Takuya began outlining the negotiation strategy he had been refining in his mind.
“Mr. Suzuki, the core principle of our negotiations with these copyright holders isn’t just about ‘buying licenses.’”
“We need to convey a message to them: through the powerful capabilities of our new console and the innovative approach of Super Robot Wars: The First, Sega will work with them to elevate the value of these classic IPs to new heights.”
“This isn’t merely a commercial partnership—it’s a ‘joint cultural legacy enhancement project.’”
“We must convince them that this is a ‘recreation’ and ‘re-promotion’ of their classic IPs, capable of attracting new, cross-generational fans and breathing fresh life into their works.”
A spark of realization flashed in Masao Suzuki’s eyes. This approach was far more sophisticated than straightforward commercial negotiations.
“I have a preliminary strategy in mind,” Takuya continued.
“‘Shared benefits, mutual success.’”
“We need to prepare tiered licensing fees and revenue-sharing plans that are compelling enough to attract them.”
“For core IPs like Gundam, Mazinger, and Getter, we can offer exceptionally generous terms, even beyond standard practices.”
“At the same time, we’ll commit to prominently featuring and respecting each IP in the game’s marketing and promotion, while actively exploring opportunities for joint campaigns to achieve mutual benefits. We should emphasize that our game will showcase iconic battle scenes from the anime, rekindling players’ nostalgia—especially for classic works that haven’t had new releases in years. Our game could provide valuable exposure for their older titles, which could even serve as a bargaining chip to negotiate better terms.”
After hearing Takuya’s vision, Masao Suzuki’s tension eased slightly, but as the one responsible for execution, he quickly tempered his excitement with practical concerns.
“Executive Director Nakayama, your ideas are highly feasible and persuasive,” he said.
“But negotiations of this scale, with so many parties, will be incredibly time-sensitive. The new console’s launch date won’t wait for us.”
“Moreover, the copyright holders’ demands will likely be substantial, and controlling the budget will be a major challenge. If we fail to secure a few key IPs, the entire project could be jeopardized.”
Takuya clapped Masao Suzuki on the shoulder, his face radiating confidence.
“Mr. Suzuki, I’ve already anticipated these challenges.”
“What Sega lacks least right now is the determination and drive to create miracles.”
“On the budget front, the company will provide maximum support, so please rest assured. As I mentioned earlier, don’t hesitate to leverage the company’s network if negotiations hit roadblocks.”
“Mr. Suzuki, the marketing department will have its work cut out for it. This is a battle that demands our most elite team and the highest efficiency. Each copyright holder needs a dedicated team to follow up, study their preferences, and craft the most tailored negotiation strategies.”
Masao Suzuki, inspired by Takuya’s confidence and meticulous planning, felt the weight in his eyes gradually give way to the thrill of a challenge.
He nodded firmly, his voice resolute.
“Executive Director, rest assured!”
“I’ll immediately assemble the team, prepare materials according to your strategic direction, and draft initial outreach plans.”
“In this ‘war,’ the marketing department will lead the charge and won’t let you down!”
Takuya smiled with satisfaction.
The two then dove into a detailed discussion, assigning priorities for each IP’s negotiations, selecting initial contacts, preparing necessary documents, and refining the content of presentation materials.
Masao Suzuki sprang into action almost immediately.
He strode out of the office, rallying all the core members of the marketing department.
Takuya’s directives and resolve, like a military order, quickly reached every team member’s ears.
The entire marketing department, like the gears of a precision war machine, began to spin at full speed.
