Adult Film Company Sues X-Rated "PornTube"

Vivid Entertainment Group Accuses Web Site Of Violating Copyright Laws, Piracy

(CBS/AP)  A major adult entertainment company has sued an X-rated knockoff of YouTube, accusing the Web site of profiting from piracy by allowing its users to post videos that can include copyrighted material.

Vivid Entertainment Group filed the federal lawsuit Monday against PornoTube and its parent, Data Conversions Inc., which does business in Charlotte, N.C. as Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network.

Like YouTube, users submit short video clips on PornoTube for free viewing, but the adult fare on that Web site are undercutting porn producers who earn most of their money from long-form videos.

"We've decided to take a stand and say 'no more,"' Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch said. "We will go after all the free sites."

Vivid said it's required by law to record the ages and birth names of its performers, but PornoTube has an unfair competitive advantage because it doesn't always have to do that, according to the lawsuit.

An AEBN executive didn't respond to a request for comment.

The suit seeks damages of $150,000 per infringed work.

Other porn companies also are upset by the explosion in Web video sites, many of which rely on user submissions that borrow heavily from copyrighted material, reports the Los Angeles Times.

[jetlizhan]

this is funny to me.

[mitywhity]

Who cares?

[neoconslayer]

Who cares?
This is funny to me?
Don''t you folks know that our culture is based on the conspicuous demonstration of wealth! How is the president of Vived Entertainment going to ensure that he has the ability to show that he is richer than you or i if he allows someone to make money off of his, well, his money-making?
I submit that this is the most important story on the internet today...

[magoo2u1]

So, ok, they copyrighted s ex or se x in front a camera? Is there some s e x act that these people are claiming was "borrowed" from a film ?
Hey , they can''t do that, We invented that postion in
our big hit "Cheeleaders gone nude" in 1987!!!

[kaelinda]

Pornography is serious business. Since America has no morals to speak of, and it has great concern with its bowels and bladders, it seems only fair that pornography has the opportunity to go to the same place as the contents of America''s bowels and bladders.

[adasher1]

Eh...I guess peeps place short clips of longer porn movies that they bought as well as their MILF after a night of too much White Zin. I would think it would attract more peeps to buy the longer movies from the porno industry, like free advertising...no? Not that I watch porn...I just did not inhale.

[beehive21-2009]

CBS is doing a better job than other agencies and thanks for the free advertising ,be back later, gonna go check it out.