Yahoo! JAPAN and Pokémon Collaborate to Ensure Safe Pokemon Card Transactions - 2023 Agreement

Following in the footsteps of Mercari, Yahoo! JAPAN and The Pokémon Company have signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of achieving a society where trading card transactions can be conducted safely and securely. This collaboration comes in response to the changing market environment surrounding trading cards, with a focus on implementing measures for mutual cooperation.

Under this agreement, the companies will undertake various actions, such as sharing product information and removing listings that violate the terms of use, including listings of infringing products, to ensure a safe and secure trading card marketplace.

Yahoo! JAPAN operates the online auction service "Yahoo! Auctions" and the flea market app "PayPay Flea Market", where they have previously established their own guidelines and diligently enforced them through actions like removing items that violate their terms of use. Now, building on their existing efforts, they will work in tandem with The Pokémon Company to create a safe and secure environment for trading card transactions on both "Yahoo! Auctions" and "PayPay Flea Market".

The official statement and agreement from Yahoo! JAPAN & The Pokémon Company regarding this collaboration with Pokemon:

"The key points of cooperation and measures between the two companies are as follows:

<The Pokémon Company>

• Providing Yahoo! JAPAN with information on new product releases and product details.
• Reporting to Yahoo! JAPAN any listings that violate the terms of use of "Yahoo! Auctions" and "PayPay Flea Market," such as listings that infringe on Pokémon's rights.

<Yahoo! JAPAN>

• Based on information provided by The Pokémon Company, raising awareness of compliance with terms of use on sites like "Yahoo! Auctions" and "PayPay Flea Market."
• Taking necessary actions to remove listings that violate the terms of use, including but not limited to:
• Listings of products that are being offered for sale before their official release date, without physical possession of the actual product.
• Listings of infringing products.
• Listings of multiple trading cards with unclear information.

Yahoo! JAPAN will also investigate the societal impact of pre-release listings on "Yahoo! Auctions" and "PayPay Flea Market" and consider further measures, including optimizing the terms of use and potentially banning pre-release listings altogether.

With its mission to "make Japan more convenient through the power of information technology," Yahoo! JAPAN remains committed to realizing a society where trading cards can be bought and sold safely and securely."