Valve has issued a recent update to its Tournament Operation Requirements and amended the Limited Game Tournament License that governs how companies may use Valve’s intellectual property. The change was published by Valve and has immediate implications for organizers and teams running both Unranked and Ranked events under those documents.
The update requires events to comply with section 2.4.e of the Limited Game Tournament License. That provision forbids licensees from distributing or displaying—whether on team jerseys or in any other content visible during tournament broadcasts—any content or material that violates Valve’s IP or the terms of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. As examples, Valve explicitly calls out game case opening sites and skin trading sites as content that is not permitted.
The restriction covers any content that appears during the broadcast of a tournament, meaning teams cannot display such sponsors on their jerseys while competing or appearing on air. The license further prohibits accepting sponsorships from entities that generate revenue through activities that violate Valve agreements or local law, specifically naming key resellers and companies that interact with players’ Valve game inventories as illustrative examples.
The broader effect on the competitive ecosystem remains uncertain. Several top professional teams, numerous smaller organizations, and some tournament organizers have existing commercial deals with skin sites and related services. Those partnerships may now be incompatible with Valve’s updated licensing terms and could require renegotiation, suspension or termination.
In anticipation of the change, some organizations have already switched to non-sponsored jersey variations ahead of travel to upcoming events. Other teams and event operators are assessing current agreements to determine what adjustments are necessary to comply with the new requirements.
Text of Limited Game Tournament License, Section 2.4.e as set out by Valve: "IP Protection. Licensee must not distribute or display, including on team jerseys or in any other content that may be visible during the broadcast, any content or material that either violates Valve IP or the terms of the Steam Subscriber Agreement (for example, game case opening sites or skin trading sites). Licensee shall not permit any content that violates Valve IP or the terms of the Steam Subscriber Agreement (e.g., logos on player jerseys) to appear in any broadcasts of the Tournament. Licensee will not accept sponsorships from sponsors that generate revenue through activities that violate applicable Valve agreements or violate local law or rely on Valve’s game economies. This includes, but is not limited to, key resellers or companies that interact with players’ Valve game inventories."