PLAVE is facing controversy after a court ordered a user to pay damages for insulting the members of the virtual K-Pop boy group.
On May 14 KST, Uijeongbu District Court judge Jang Yoo Jin ruled that an individual known as ‘B‘ violated the group’s rights with derogatory comments. The judge mandated that ‘B‘ compensate each member of PLAVE 100,000 KRW (approximately $73 USD).
“The use of avatars in the age of the metaverse may be considered another means for users of technology to express themselves and communicate with others. In that sense, insulting the avatars may be seen as equivalent to insulting the actual user behind the avatar.” – Judge Jang Yoo Jin
The controversy began in July 2024 when ‘B‘ posted several videos targeting PLAVE, raising questions about the real identities of its members. In response, the group filed a lawsuit through their agency.
During the trial, ‘B‘ argued that the insults weren’t aimed at the real individuals, saying:
“The insults made in the posts and videos were not directed at the real-life individuals behind the virtual characters, therefore, they cannot be considered accounts of offense."
This claim was rejected by the court. The judge stated:
“An individual can still be offended even when their real names or any specific names referring to that individual or group are not used."
The ruling sets a new precedent, confirming that attacks on virtual avatars can be treated as insults to the real individuals behind them.
PLAVE, which debuted in March 2023, consists of five members: Yejun, Noah, Bamby, Eunho, and Hamin.
Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story and how it may impact virtual entertainment!
