As VTubers have exploded in popularity over recent years, gaining traction across Japan, Asia, and even Western markets, increased attention has unfortunately led to a rise in "anti-fans." Malicious individuals online have been actively slandering and spreading false rumors about VTubers, affecting both corporate-backed talents and independent creators alike.
Hololive VTuber agency Cover Corp. announced its latest progress on intellectual property infringement countermeasures on March 19. The company stated it plans to initiate at least 30 legal actions within the next month, including requests for sender information disclosure, civil lawsuits, and criminal proceedings, demonstrating a firm stance against such behavior.
The company also revealed a case that has already reached a settlement. According to the explanation, an individual had disseminated false information about a Cover Corp. VTuber on social media platforms, severely impacting the talent's public reputation and infringing upon their personal dignity.
Under the resolution process, the company first identified the individual's identity through a "request for sender information disclosure," followed by negotiations that ultimately led to a settlement. The terms included a formal apology from the individual, deletion of relevant social media accounts, a commitment to refrain from future defamation, and payment of damages. A penalty for breach of contract would also apply if the agreement is violated in the future.
Furthermore, Cover Corp. is continuously investigating the dissemination of false information and malicious content that denigrates the personal dignity of its talents, both domestically and internationally, across platforms such as YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), anonymous forums, and まとめ (summary) websites. Within the next month, the company anticipates initiating at least 30 cases involving requests for sender information disclosure, civil lawsuits, and criminal proceedings. The next update on intellectual property infringement countermeasures is expected around April 2026.
Japanese law is increasingly offering greater protections for VTubers and their "Naka no Hito" (the person behind the avatar), aiming to curb past incidents of harassment and defamation. With existing precedents, offensive images and texts can be considered an infringement on the VTuber's real identity, and plaintiffs can also file civil lawsuits anonymously.
As the industry leader with Hololive, Cover Corp. is clearly adopting a strong stance to protect its VTuber talents.