On its official website, Johnny & Associates instructed fans to stop spreading rumors about the company’s talents on social media and to end the practice of secretly filming them.
The statement was titled “Regarding Responses to False Postings and Acts of Voyeurism on SNS Targeting Our Talents.” In the statement, Johnny & Associates said that they have recently seen malicious posts about their talents on social media, and have seen these posts spread across the internet.
A certain behavior in particular that was called out by the company was a fan implying that they have a personal connection with a talent by posting false evidence on social media, such as stolen photos, photos from blogs, and false communications such as emails and LINE messages. The company also called out taking photos of the talents in secret and defaming the talents with false information.
Johnny & Associates said that such behavior “not only damages their reputation, but also seriously infringes on their privacy rights, portrait rights, and publicity rights, and obstructs the business of our company as well.” The company has spoken to police on this matter, and are threatening legal action if such incidents continue to occur. Therefore, we have consulted with police agencies, and if this behavior continues, we believe that we will have no choice but to identify the poster and take legal action.
“Please, please stop the aforementioned actions immediately, thank you,” the statement read.
A number of other topics were also included in the statement, including concert etiquette, unathorized resale and purchase of tickets, illegal distribution of music and videos, etiquette for public transporation usage when going to events, gifts for the talents, and impersonating talent and company staff.
In regards to concert etiquette, camera and phone usage are not allowed before, during, or after the concert. Phones must also be on silent. There is also no changing of seats without the company’s permission. There is no standing if the ticket is for a seated seat. Uchiwa must be a certain size (height: 285 mm, width: 295 mm, handle: 135 mm or less) and held at chest height. Uchiwa and penlights must not obstruct the view of others. Other signs can not be used at concerts. Alcohol can not be consusmed at concerts, and people who are under the influence of alcohol are not to attend. Trash is not to be left. Fans are to report others at the concert who are behaving improperly.
In regards to the unauthorized resale and purchase of tickets, the company follows the “Ticket Unauthorized Resale Prohibition Act”, which took effect in June 2019. The penalty for buyers and sellers is up to a year in jail, a fine up to ¥1 million, or both. If a fan is found to have an unauthorized ticket, they will be refused admission. If they are already inside the venue, they will be asked to leave. The company requires fans to bring their fan club membership card and their government ID to verify their identity. If a reseller give a fan a fake ID along with the ticket, the reseller is now guilty of forging a government document.
In regards to the illegal distribution of music and videos, this is a violation of copyright law. The penalty for uploaders and downloaders is up to 10 years in jail, a fine up to ¥10 million, or both.
A small, but growing, number of fans have been causing issues on trains and planes, as well as at train stations and airports. These issues include following the talents at the locales, ambushing the talents, blocking the access of other passengers, taking photos and videos of talent, deliberately bumping into and hugging talent, ignoring staff warnings, attacking staff, and chasing moving vehicles. Johnny & Associates ask that fans stop this behavior.
In regards to gifts for the talents, the company keeps fan letters and does not accept gifts.
There have recently been cases of people running scams online by impersonating talent and company staff, in which they try to get money out of the fans. The fans are to report this to police if it happens to them.
