Urgent Notice for YouTube Content Creators

Since late 2023, there have been multiple reports of people receiving copyright strikes on YouTube due to the use, or apparent use, of mods or any external programs, even if they are not technically mods, in Monster Hunter games.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] It is unclear what specifically triggers these strikes on YouTube or why this issue has only recently emerged, although there are videos clueing into some answers.^[5] For more information, see their video policy and their video about the topic in general.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

YouTube has a history of being a less-than-ideal platform for archiving speedruns.^[12] Therefore, we recommend using alternatives such as archive.org for this purpose.

Key Points from the Overlay's FAQ and Documentation

The overlay is not a mod: You can use it with either vanilla or modified files, but the overlay itself does not alter gameplay behavior nor provide custom in-game cosmetics.
The overlay can be used as an Anti-cheating tool: The overlay provides accurate records of all quest activities in a SQLite file. We also offer a settings preset for speedrunning and watermarks to indicate this preset when needed.
The overlay provides No warranties: Per the MIT license, we provide no warranties for the software.

Guidelines for Overlay Users

To minimize the risk to your YouTube account and prepare for future leaderboard run submissions, please follow these guidelines. Note that these guidelines may become outdated, so we recommend checking the leaderboard page for the latest information.

Video Submission Guidelines

Consider using platforms such as Bilibili or archive.org for video submissions. We do not recommend using Twitch or YouTube. We recommend archive.org.
Provide the video link with the SQLite file. The overlay allows you to edit video links via the run ID.
Make YouTube videos unlisted, not public.
Ensure your video titles, tags and descriptions are in English only.
Put your gear and weapon information in the video description.
Avoid mentioning any external tools, including mods, in YouTube descriptions. Minimize the number of links.
Avoid tagging your YouTube videos with games that are not Monster Hunter Frontier.
Avoid livestreams or videos featuring custom quests.
Avoid putting music that is not part of the game.
Do not show the overlay UI during videos. The UI of the overlay or other programs like LiveSplit might trigger YouTube's systems. We use videos to corroborate the data in the SQLite file, so showing the watermark is not necessary for submissions.

Criteria for Leaderboard Submissions

Show all of your guild card, gear and weapon pages at the end of a hunt.
Use the speedrun preset in overlay settings. If the overlay watermark shows numbers in parentheses, those runs are not submitted. Refer to the FAQ for more details on the run buffs question.
Solo Runs: No other players or NPCs, except Halk.
Speedrun Categories Only: Runs with overlay watermark numbers are not submitted. See the FAQ for more details on run buffs.
No Custom Quests: Only Z4, Musous, Conquest LV9999, 2nd District Duremudira, and Upper Shiten are allowed.
Viewable Video Links: Each video link must come from the player submitting the run. You cannot upload runs on behalf of another player.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but you do so at your own risk.
Videos that mention external tools or mods, livestreams or videos featuring custom quests, and videos with non-game music are more likely to receive copyright strikes.
If you receive a copyright strike, review YouTube's copyright policies and guidelines. You may want to appeal the strike if you believe it was issued in error. Consult with a legal expert for advice on how to proceed.
We recommend making YouTube videos unlisted rather than public to reduce the risk of copyright strikes. Private videos, which require manual invites, are not allowed.
The overlay has a section where you can edit video links by entering the run ID. Refer to the overlay's documentation and FAQ for detailed instructions.
If your video is removed, consider re-uploading it to an alternative platform like archive.org or Bilibili. Ensure your video complies with the guidelines to avoid future issues.
Yes, use the speedrun preset in the overlay settings. Ensure the overlay watermark does not show numbers in parentheses, as these runs will not be submitted. Refer to the FAQ for more details on the run buffs question.
This ensures the authenticity of your run and verifies that no unauthorized modifications were used. It helps maintain the integrity of the leaderboard.
No, each player must upload their own runs. Video links must come directly from the player submitting the run.
- Show all of your guild card, gear and weapon pages at the end of a hunt.
- Use the speedrun preset in overlay settings. If the overlay watermark shows numbers in parentheses, those runs are not submitted. Refer to the FAQ for more details on the run buffs question.
- Solo Runs: No other players or NPCs, except Halk.
- Speedrun Categories Only: Runs with overlay watermark numbers are not submitted. See the FAQ for more details on run buffs.
- No Custom Quests: Only Z4, Musous, Conquest LV9999, 2nd District Duremudira, and Upper Shiten are allowed.
- Viewable Video Links: Each video link must come from the player submitting the run. You cannot upload runs on behalf of another player.
We recommend using platforms such as archive.org and Bilibili for video submissions. Avoid using Twitch or YouTube due to the risk of copyright strikes.

Closing Notes

We are committed to speedrun preservation and aim to provide historical accuracy and reliability when we launch the leaderboard on this website. Thank you for your understanding.