Serious Statement Regarding Recent Online Misinformation, Malicious Allegations, and Defamation
Recently, Waton Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") has identified a continuous spread of false information, misleading interpretations, malicious insinuations, defamatory statements, and deliberate smear campaigns concerning the Company across various social media platforms, online forums, messaging applications, video-sharing platforms, and other public online channels. Such statements have caused significant harm to the Company's brand reputation, market order, business credibility, and the trust of its partners, and may also mislead members of the public.
The Company has consistently adhered to the core principles of "lawful operations, integrity-driven development, transparency, and compliance." We remain committed to the steady advancement of our global business operations and international development while continuously emphasizing corporate governance, protection of member interests, and maintenance of fair market order.
The Company will not tolerate any unverified false information, nor any conduct intended to spread market panic, mislead the public, or deliberately damage the Company's reputation and goodwill. To safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and maintain normal market order, the Company has formally appointed Ohmoto General Law Office as its legal counsel and has initiated legal proceedings and evidence preservation measures regarding the relevant matters.
According to the contents of the Public Legal Statement:
Recently, certain individuals have published, reposted, or disseminated false content concerning the Company through social media, forums, messaging applications, video-sharing platforms, and other public online channels. Such content includes unverified information, one-sided or inaccurate interpretations, malicious insinuations, false accusations, and statements that may harm the Company's reputation, business credibility, and normal operations.
Such content may not only mislead the public, business counterparties, and other third parties but may also adversely affect the Company's brand image, business reputation, and normal business activities. The Company expresses its serious concern regarding these matters and will take all necessary legal actions to protect its lawful rights and interests.
The Company has already initiated the following legal measures, including but not limited to:
- Collection and preservation of evidence relating to online misinformation
- Investigation and tracing of original publishers and related accounts
- Platform reporting and requests for removal of infringing content
- Evaluation of international and cross-border legal procedures
- Issuance of legal notices and public legal statements
- Requests for disclosure of sender and account information
- Claims for damages and pursuit of subsequent civil and criminal liabilities
The Company hereby solemnly reminds all parties that:
Any person who publishes, reposts, or disseminates unverified information through the internet or other means, or engages in defamation, insult, damage to credit, infringement of business reputation, or interference with business operations against the Company, may bear civil and criminal liabilities depending on the specific content, manner of publication, scope of dissemination, and actual impact.
Potential legal liabilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Defamation
- Damage to business credit and reputation
- Interference with business operations
- Infringement of commercial goodwill
- Liability arising from unfair competition
- Compensation for damages resulting from infringement of the Company's lawful rights and interests
Furthermore, online comments, posts, reposts, screenshots, videos, account information, and related communication records may all serve as important evidence in subsequent legal proceedings for determining facts and responsibilities.
The internet is not beyond the reach of the law. Any act of disseminating, assisting in dissemination, inciting, insinuating, or maliciously manipulating false information may result in corresponding legal liabilities.
Accordingly, the Company formally demands that relevant individuals and platform users:
- Immediately cease publishing, reposting, or disseminating false information concerning the Company;
- Immediately remove any misleading, offensive, defamatory, or infringing content already published;
- Refrain from making any insinuations, smears, defamatory statements, or acts damaging the Company's reputation in any form;
- Refrain from assisting third parties in forwarding, amplifying, or spreading unverified information;
- Where relevant content has caused adverse effects on the Company, take necessary measures in accordance with law, including clarification, correction, and public apology.
The Company has comprehensively recorded, preserved, and verified relevant online information and will continue to take all necessary actions as circumstances require, including platform complaints, takedown requests, legal proceedings, claims for damages, and any other legal remedies available.
The Company will pursue legal responsibility to the fullest extent permitted by law against any malicious, persistent, organized, or harmful infringement activities in order to protect its lawful rights and interests, business credibility, member interests, and normal business operations.
We sincerely thank our partners, members, and supporters for their continued trust and support of Waton Co., Ltd.
This statement is hereby issued.
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日本華生株式会社 官方公告
Date: May 27, 2026
