Japan's professional baseball body is wavering on whether to relax its own restrictions on the use of social media to meet the demand of fans eager to share their passion via digital platforms.

In February, the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, or NPB, introduced a ban prohibiting spectators from posting photos and videos of players on the field during play on social media sites.

This proved controversial, with the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association repeatedly asking the body for an easing of the restrictions, describing them as "overly strict when compared with those applied to other sports."

Under NPB's rules, people can take in-stadium videos and photos. They face restrictions, however, on streaming and uploading photos and videos on Instagram, X, YouTube, blogs and other online platforms.

Until last season, NPB did not have any rules banning malicious practices such as streaming baseball games live on social media without permission.

While understanding the influence of social media, NPB, which is tasked with protection of broadcasting rights, players' image rights and the privacy of stadium staff and spectators, decided to take action against infringements of such rights.

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, a team based in the city of Kitahiroshima, previously announced its own policy of allowing spectators to post videos and photos to social media at games, under an exception allowed under the NPB rules.

The team scrapped this policy, however, after NPB advised against the move in March.

Still, the team emphasized that its policy had been implemented as it believed that freely posting attractive social media content filmed at stadiums was key to spreading and developing Japanese pro baseball, as well as enhancing value for people going to stadiums to watch baseball games live.

The issue of reconsidering the restrictions was discussed at an NPB board meeting held on June 2, with members suggesting a wide variety of proposals, such as shortening the length of videos that can be posted on social media from the current 140 seconds.

"All teams are seriously thinking about the fans, players and other matters," said NPB secretary-general Katsuhiko Nakamura.

"We'll work on easing the restrictions as much as possible," he added.

Seeking approval at a meeting of team owners to be held on July 14, NPB is in the final stage of talks on the restrictions, aiming to strike a good balance between baseball fans sharing the excitement of being present at the games and protecting rights.