The fight goes back to 2003, when the union sought a ruling from the Osaka Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee over the validity of the contract clause. This culminated in the non-socialization clause being ruled illegal by the Osaka District Court in December, 2004. For further evidence of the policy’s ‘death’, we only have to look at the settlement made between Nova and a former trainer who was demoted over socialization. The teacher filed a legal suit at Osaka District Court against Nova, with the court mediating a financial settlement. As predicted by the General Union in 2004, firings and disciplinary action over the socialization clause are disappearing. While the clause may remain in the contract for the moment it is effectively dead. People who are threatened with action over socialization should contact the union immediately over how to proceed.