As VTubers have exploded in popularity over recent years, they've sparked a global phenomenon across Japan, Asia, and the West. With increased attention, however, comes the inevitable rise of haters and malicious individuals who spread slander and rumors online. This issue has plagued VTubers across the board, from major corporate talents to independent creators.
Recently, VTuber agency ANYCOLOR announced that its NIJISANJI VTuber, Toru Koshimizu, was subjected to online infringement. Following legal proceedings, the perpetrator has paid approximately 1 million JPY in damages. Notably, the compensation amount was reduced because the perpetrator recorded a sincere apology video.
ANYCOLOR explained that the incident occurred on an anonymous forum, where the individual engaged in acts infringing upon Toru Koshimizu's rights. After judicial review, the court approved the disclosure of the sender's information, leading to a claim for damages against the perpetrator. Ultimately, both parties reached a settlement under the condition that the perpetrator pay approximately 1 million JPY in compensation and issue a public apology.
ANYCOLOR further noted that the infringer not only recorded a personal apology video but also actively cooperated with subsequent procedures, which led to the reduced settlement amount.
ANYCOLOR continues to work closely with its VTubers, taking legal action against acts such as defamation, insult, damage to reputation, obstruction of business, privacy invasion, intimidation, and copyright infringement. This includes suing anonymous commenters and demanding information disclosure.
The company also disclosed that it handled a total of 124 related cases between November 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024, a significant increase from 80 cases in the previous year. The types of cases handled include: defamation, privacy invasion, malicious slander, harassment, and even illegal acts such as death threats, stalking, and YouTube live chat trolling.
Notably, ANYCOLOR has successfully used legal means to compel YouTube to provide identity information of "malicious attackers" and further claim damages. This marks a significant shift, as "trolling" (荒らし行為), which was previously difficult to prosecute, is now gaining judicial attention.
ANYCOLOR also emphasized that recent court judgments in online defamation lawsuits are increasingly siding with the victims. This trend gives them greater confidence to continue prosecuting and cracking down on infringements.
Japanese law is also trending towards increased protection for VTubers and their "naka no hito" (the person behind the avatar), aiming to curb past incidents of harassment and defamation. With legal precedents now available, offensive images and texts are increasingly being considered infringements on the VTuber's "naka no hito" themselves. Furthermore, plaintiffs can now file civil lawsuits anonymously. This could potentially reduce the chaos of malicious attacks, more effectively safeguarding the "naka no hito," and offering greater security even for independent VTubers.