Industry Blog MasterZoneX Launches

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ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. — Dirt-E, the founder of FreeEzineBucks.com and PornResource.com, has launched his latest adult entertainment industry news and opinion forum, the blog MasterZoneX.com.
The blog, which is targeted for an audience of adult webmasters, provides information about its Top 20 sponsors, opinions from key industry players as well as news and information on upcoming events. The blog also offers metrics breakdowns for business-minded readers as well as a gossip section for users looking for lighter fare.
Users also can access technical information for free with the blog’s Online Tools section, which offers advice on topics ranging from HTML to CSS generators.
While Dirt-E is not the original owner of the domain, he said he plans to build the site into the definitive adult entertainment industry blog.
“I have always felt like I had my finger on the pulse of the adult entertainment industry, so when the opportunity to own and operate MasterZoneX.com came up, it was one I could not pass up,” he said. “I will strive to make this site one that I would want to visit daily myself to get a feel for up-to-the-minute industry news and developments.”
In addition to using the blog as an information resource, Dirt-E said webmasters should feel free to submit their own news, rants and opinions.

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Reporters Without Borders Announces "13 Enemies of the Internet"

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PARIS -- November was a month during which many in the United States spent time reflecting upon what it had to be thankful for. The members of the Reporters Without Borders (RWB) advocacy, however, chose the month to release its "13 Enemies of the Internet" list, thus providing the world with at least 13 things to not feel thankful for.The organization, based in Paris, France, focuses on press freedom throughout the world and includes the internet in its studies, releasing an annual list of countries "that systematically violate online free expression."This year some familiar names have managed to drop off the list, while others have been added. For instance, Nepal, Libya, and Maldives have each become non-entities on the top 13, while Egypt has earned its place among the infamous baker's dozen most aggressively suppressing freedom of speech.Unlike previous years, Reporters Without Borders also organized an online protest to highlight the risks that many world citizens able to connect to the internet face, especially if involved with controversial or governmentally unpopular political views or stances. Participants had 24-hours during which they could vote for the world's most heinous free speech offenders, as well as leave voice messages for Yahoo's co-founder, Jerry Yang, condemning the search engine site's cooperation with China's policies of censorship. The BBC quoted a representative for the Reporters Without Borders as saying that the protest's goal was "to mobilize net users so that when we lobby certain countries, we can say that the concers are not just ours, but those of thousands of internet users around the world." The list will surprise few human rights followers, given that many of the countries are infamous for violations in other areas, as well. Egypt is the new addition to the list, primarily due to its treatment of bloggers. "Three bloggers have been arrested and detained this year (2006) for speaking out in favor of democratic reform. This is an appeal to the Egyptian government to change its position," a spokesman for the rights group explained.On the other hand, the same person observed that "The fact that this year we have removed three countries from the list is encouraging. It shows that the situation can change for the better." Libya, for instance, no longer censors the internet, although its president, Maummar Gaddafi, is still viewed as a "predator of press freedom" by the group.The 2006 list of 13 internet enemies, as determined by Reporters Without Boundaries is…• Belarus -- blocks opposition group websites, especially during elections. Hacks online publications.• Burma -- filters opposition websites, monitors internet cafes closely and mandates screen captures every five minutes, targeted internet telephony and chat services during June.• China -- the world's most advanced internet filtering nation monitors tech to cut off new methods of communication, has targeted websites and chat areas but now focuses on video swap sites and its nearly 17 million bloggers, blocks "subversive" words, pressures providers to control content, changes blog content, successfully enforces citizen self-censorship and has imprisoned 52 people who spoke out against the government online.• Cuba -- uses multiple techniques to keep the two-percent of citizens who access the internet from using it in a "counter-revolutionary" manner. Among them is what is effectively a ban on private internet connections and the necessity of using public and easily monitored access points using government installed monitoring software in places ranging from internet cafes to hotel connections. Long jail terms for violating the law helps enforce self-censorship.• Egypt -- uses very little online filtering but has a president who seems keen to controlling internet use. Three bloggers have been arrested and held for months for supporting democratic reforms, while others have been harassed. A Council of State administrative court supported blocking, closing, or suspending websites thought to be a threat to "national security." • Iran -- although less aggressive against bloggers than in the past, having released all but one of its 20 imprisoned bloggers, filtering is now the preferred method of censorship, boasting 10 million filtered "immoral" sites ranging from pornography to politics to religion to women's rights. Broadband is now illegal.• North Korea -- one of the worst offenders, giving internet access to only a select few officials using connections rented from China. Its country domain is still un-launched and its few governmental sites are hosted in Japan or South Korea.• Saudi Arabia -- Entirely out front about its censorship, the government doesn't even pretend it's not filtering traffic. Instead, it clearly outlines what sites are forbidden, including porn, political opposition sites, homosexual material, and Israeli publications. The country tried to block access to blogger.com but backed off, now simply blocking any blog deemed unacceptable.• Syria -- Those picked up for being online dissenters are tortured and treated inhumanely. There are currently three people in prison for speaking ill of the authorities online. Arabic-language opposition sites and those concerning Syria's Kurds are illegal.• Tunisia -- Irony of ironies, this country hosted the 2005 United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society. State-controlled internet cafes filter web content and are watched by the police. Users can not connect to the Reporters Without Boundaries website, bloggers are harassed, and self-censorship is rigorously encouraged.• Turkmenistan -- Beating out Cuba for numbers of citizens unable to access the internet, fewer than one-percent of the population is connected. President Separmurad Nyazov controls the media, has the internet censored, and simply won't let most of his people online.• Uzbkistan -- President Islam Karimov's government blocks most independent websites covering the country or disapproving of its human rights policies. • Vietnam -- In the hopes of romancing the World Trade Organization, the government has backed off on dissidents somewhat, releasing some from prison during 2005 and 2006. This has inspired pro-democracy supporters to be more assertive about internet use in an attempt to inspire political reform. Authorities are still willing to use violence and incarceration in order to promote their ends.

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Jameson Gets TV Channel

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LOS ANGELES — Adult superstar Jenna Jameson will soon have her own TV channel, courtesy of Playboy Inc.
According to company spokesperson Taryn Pieh, the pay-per-view channel will include loads of content featuring Jameson and the rest of the Club Jenna stars, as well as original programming.
"[The new channel] will have a lot of cool, reality-type stuff," Pieh told XFANZ.
According to the Arizona Republic, it'll be called the Club Jenna Channel. Playboy Inc. will run all of the channel's operations.
Club Jenna and Jenna Jameson recently teamed up with Doc Johnson on a new toy called Jenna's Velvet G that focuses on the female pleasure-center.

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Adult Enterprises a Hot Stock Commodity

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The adult entertainment industry has always been a hotbed of controversy, but that hasn't stopped entrepreneurs and investors from all over the globe from becoming involved in its many opportunities. With the dawning of the Internet, many of these companies saw a boost - some due in part to the general public becoming more familiar with these businesses and adult entertainment, in general, becoming more familiar and accepted that ever before.This is apparent in the popularity of adult entertainment corporations who have gone public on the open stock market. A recent article posted in several media stock reports and online publications revealed the top eight adult entertainment stock companies - even more proof of the mainstreaming of porn.Playboy (PLA)Founded by Hugh Hefner in Chicago, Illinois in 1953 with a $600 loan, the Playboy Corporation has grown to become the largest adult entertainment conglomerate in the world. Various divisions include magazines, clubs, clothing lines, web sites, TV channels and of course videos. Hugh's daughter, Christie Hefner, currently runs the company and its stock was up over 14% for the last half of 2006.New Frontier Media (NOOF)Traded on NASDAQ, this Boulder, Colorado company, provides adult entertainment television networks, cable TV VOD, satellite broadcasts, films and hotel room broadcasts. Its stock was up over 34% in the last six months of 2006. LodgeNet Entertainment (LNET)Another NASDAQ-traded company, LodgeNet is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and provides TV broadcast to various hotels internationally as well as in the US, including on-demand movies featuring adult entertainment. Its stock was up over 34% in the last six months of 2006. Private Media Group (PRVT)Private is perhaps one of the most well known producers of adult magazines, videos and DVDs, and has been around since 1980. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the company also produces content for broadcast television, cable, satellite and the Internet. Most notably, this stock had a very high P/E of 140 and a P/S of 5 at the writing of the article.Rick's Cabaret International (RICK)Rick's operates adult-oriented nightclubs throughout the US in New Orleans, Houston, New York, Charlotte and Minneapolis. Its P/E was 22 at the writing of the article.Other notables are Million Dollar Saloon Inc. (MLDS.PK) which was founded in 1982 and operates an adult cabaret in Dallas; Scores Holding Co. Inc. (SCRH.OB), the New York-based company infamous for its adult nightclubs; and Interactive Brand Development Inc. (IBDI.OB), an online payment processing company from Deerfield Beach, Florida who also owns a part interest in the adult TV network Penthouse Media Group.How long will it be before we see dozens of adult industry companies up high on the stock market? Many insiders say that the industry is still growing and with adult content becoming more acceptable through television, movies and the Internet, it will continue to grow well outside of its original boundaries, becoming more visible in mainstream business markets.

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XBIZ Announces Updated Seminar Schedule

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HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — XBIZ has released an updated seminar schedule for its upcoming Hollywood ’07 Conference.
The schedule, which was changed to accommodate recent additions, allows attendees to participate in both the .XXX and 2257 discussions without having to choose one over the other, XBIZ Publisher Tom Hymes said.
“We have a lot of really wonderful seminars,” Hymes said. “For some, attendees will have to make a choice about what matters to them the most. But for the 2257 seminar, which will feature FBI Special Agent Chuck Joyner, and the .XXX panel, we didn’t want people to miss either one.”
The updated schedule now features 13 seminars and speeches, including keynote addresses from Gregory Clayman of Video Secrets, Jay Grdina of Club Jenna and adult entertainment industry legend Larry Flynt.
“Knock, Knock: The 2257 Inspection Process” will kickoff the conference at 10 a.m. Feb. 7.
“The Proposed .XXX TLD: A Dialogue with ICM Registry” will begin the afternoon session Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.
In light of the changes, Hymes asked attendees to review the schedule and make their plans accordingly.
The XBIZ Hollywood '07 Industry Conference is the adult entertainment industry's next-generation annual conference. Set against the Hollywood glamour of the Roosevelt Hotel, the event will unite the power centers of the industry for two days of intensive workshops, seminars and networking opportunities. The conference takes place Feb. 7-8 and culminates with the 5th Annual XBIZ Awards at the Highlands on Feb. 8.

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Father of Internet Dismisses Net Neutrality as "a Slogan"

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- A lot of people have said a lot of things about the confusing issue called "'Net Neutrality." One of the latest to weigh in with an opinion is Robert Kahn, the highest of the high muckamucks involved with the development of the internet.While speaking at the Computer History Museum, the co-inventor of TCP/IP spoke out strongly against 'Net Neutrality legislation, calling it "a slogan," according to The Register.During an event held in his honor, Kahn urged his audience to be skeptical of legislation that could impede innovation and experimentation where it is needed by enforcing absolutist views of network architecture. "If the goal is to encourage people to build new capabilities," he emphasized, "then the party that takes the lead is probably only going to have it on their 'Net to start with and it's not going to be on anyone else's 'Net."While reminding listeners that the goal of developing the internet was to make it possible for networks to interconnect, he praised using incentives to encourage innovation while stating clearly that "I am totally opposed to mandating that nothing interesting can happen inside the 'Net" and concluding that what is called "'Net Neutrality" legislation actually poses a greater threat than does fragmentation. Khan joins a growing number of senior engineers involved in the development of the standard TCP/IP protocol who has spoken out against 'Net Neutrality. Although Vint Cerf, who worked with Khan to develop TCP/IP and is now with Google in Washington DC, is a 'Net Neutrality supporter, Dave Farber (called the "grandfather of the internet) is one of the most vocal critics of such legislation, speaking for many when he has shared his concerns that it would make it difficult for systems engineers to continue their work on issues that relate to data transfer speed.

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Father of Internet Dismisses Net Neutrality as "a Slogan"

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- A lot of people have said a lot of things about the confusing issue called "'Net Neutrality." One of the latest to weigh in with an opinion is Robert Kahn, the highest of the high muckamucks involved with the development of the internet.While speaking at the Computer History Museum, the co-inventor of TCP/IP spoke out strongly against 'Net Neutrality legislation, calling it "a slogan," according to The Register.During an event held in his honor, Kahn urged his audience to be skeptical of legislation that could impede innovation and experimentation where it is needed by enforcing absolutist views of network architecture. "If the goal is to encourage people to build new capabilities," he emphasized, "then the party that takes the lead is probably only going to have it on their 'Net to start with and it's not going to be on anyone else's 'Net."While reminding listeners that the goal of developing the internet was to make it possible for networks to interconnect, he praised using incentives to encourage innovation while stating clearly that "I am totally opposed to mandating that nothing interesting can happen inside the 'Net" and concluding that what is called "'Net Neutrality" legislation actually poses a greater threat than does fragmentation. Khan joins a growing number of senior engineers involved in the development of the standard TCP/IP protocol who has spoken out against 'Net Neutrality. Although Vint Cerf, who worked with Khan to develop TCP/IP and is now with Google in Washington DC, is a 'Net Neutrality supporter, Dave Farber (called the "grandfather of the internet) is one of the most vocal critics of such legislation, speaking for many when he has shared his concerns that it would make it difficult for systems engineers to continue their work on issues that relate to data transfer speed.

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Office of Justice Programs Publishes Cybercrime Investigation Guide

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WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs issued a report entitled “Investigations Involving the Internet and Computer Networks” to be disseminated to law enforcement agencies across the country, in aid of improving the capacity of such agencies to perform effective “cybercrime” investigations.The report offers a detailed look at the host of issues that confront investigators in cybercrime cases, covering the definitions of the most basic of terms and abbreviations –like “trojan,” “spoof,” and “ISP,” – as well as more complex issues, like the legal ramifications of multi-jurisdictional evidence collection.Coming out on the heels of several well-publicized investigations that local law enforcement agencies have been accused of botching and/or pursuing with greater zeal than professionalism (like the strange case of 16-year-old Arizonan Matthew Bandy), the report is packed with warnings and cautionary notes imploring investigators to proceed with caution, avoid jumping to conclusions, and to handle their investigations with the utmost care.For example, one section of the report cautions that “(B)ecause investigations involving the Internet and computer networks mean that the suspect’s computer communicated with other computers, investigators should be aware that the suspect may assert that the incriminating evidence was placed on the media by a Trojan program,” adding that a “proper seizure and forensic examination of a suspect's hard drive may determine whether evidence exists of the presence and use of Trojan programs.”Similar caveats and cautionary notes crop up throughout the report. Another example, from the section of the report dealing with the subject of IP addresses, cites a common analogy that IP addresses are like an “apartment address.” The report cautions readers that the “IP address does not denote a physical location of the device at the time it is connected to the Internet.”Further, the report warns that the “date and time an IP address was assigned must be determined to tie it to a specific device or user account,” noting that an ISP may or may not maintain historical log files that related dynamically assigned IP addresses to an individual subscriber account, or individual user, at any particular time.Investigators are also warned that they must proceed with caution in their investigations to avoid tipping off suspects. In a section of the report instructing investigators on the use of whois, nslookup and traceroute queries, investigators are cautioned that they “should be aware that inquiries made on these sites might be monitored and recorded.” “It is important to conduct sensitive inquiries from a computer that is not traceable back to the investigating agency,” the report continues.Among the basic investigative techniques covered in the report is a step by step guide to tracing an IP address or domain name, and extensive bullet-point lists of what manner of evidence might be found on a computer, server or other digital device, and the type of data that could be available through a suspect’s or victim’s ISP.In an acknowledgement of the particular skills required to conduct a proper investigation, the report cautions that an “investigator should not attempt to examine a computer system if the investigator has not received special training in forensic examination of computers.”“The investigator should follow agency policy or contact an agency with a forensic examination capability,” the report states, further warning that extreme care should be taken to ensure that investigators do not inadvertently alter, damage, overwrite, or otherwise taint digital evidence by attempting to use a suspect’s or victim’s PC.The DOJ report also explicitly cautions investigators to be very mindful of the legal morass their case could devolve into if proper investigative and chain of evidence protocols are not followed and provides a brief analysis of the major statutes that govern their investigation.The report specifically instructs investigators to be mindful of their duties and required protocols under the Fourth Amendment, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Pen Register and Trap and Trace Statute, Title III wiretaps, and “applicable State laws.”For the full DOJ Office of Justice Programs report, refer to the following URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/210798.pdf

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Warner Bros. Creates Dual-Format THD Disc

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LOS ANGELES — Warner Bros. officially unveiled its dual-format high-definition disc, called Total Hi Def (THD) at International CES.
The “flipper” discs will carry Blu-ray disc content on one side and HD DVD on the other. A Warner spokeswoman said the new discs will make shopping easier for consumers and selling more convenient for retailers.
“Consumers won’t need to worry which format to get,” the spokeswoman told XBIZ. “Retailers will only need to stock one package and it will free up shelf space.”
However, THD’s ultimate success may be dependent upon its acceptance by other studios. At press time, the only studios officially supporting THD are New Line Entertainment and HBO, partners within Time Warner.
“We have clearly made a significant and successful effort to make the content producing community aware of the benefits of THD and we assume they are evaluating it,” the Warner spokeswoman said.
Final replication costs have not yet been determined, but the spokeswoman assures the authoring and preparation costs will be the same as they are now. Both the Blu-ray and HD DVD sides of the THD disc will have high-capacity storage capabilities.

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Sony: XXX Blu-ray is OK

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WASHINGTON — Sony has officially said that adult content on Blu-ray is OK with them. Kind of.
"There's no prohibition against adult content," Sony spokesperson Lisa Gephardt said. "We don't tell people how they can use the licenses they get from the Blu-ray Disc Association."
The announcement comes near what appears to be the end of the latest format war, this one between HD-DVD and Blu-ray. In the adult industry, only Vivid is going forward with Blu-ray, though they're planning to offer their titles on both formats.
Corruption director Bo Kenney told XFANZ that as soon as he heard that his company, Sex Z Pictures, would have to get a license from Sony to offer movies on Blu-ray, their decision was made.
"[W]e said, 'Forget about it,'" Kenney said.
Digital Playground co-founder Joone said that his company originally wanted to go with Blu-ray but had to switch to HD-DVD because they couldn't find a company that would put adult movies on Blu-ray disks.
But after hearing about the announcement from Sony, Joone told XFANZ he would give the format another shot.
"Oh, yeah, I'll definitely [call Sony] again," Joone said. "I'd like to call them and ask who can [put adult movies on Blu-ray]."
Joone said that he asked eight companies in four countries to reproduce Blu-ray disks for Digital Playground. They all said no.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. officially unveiled its dual-format high-definition disk at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The disks include HD-DVD content on one side and Blu-ray on the other. They're calling it the Total Hi Def.
Right now, only New Line Entertainment and HBO are planning to support the Total Hi Def format.

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Webmastery 101: EuroRevenue Giving Away Subscriptions to Klixxx University

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CHAM, Switzerland - Bukkake and Facial fetish niche leader, EuroRevenue (www.EuroRevenue.com) has entered into a partnership with Klixxx Magazine to provide the company's legions of affiliate webmasters with unlimited access to the Klixxx University Adult Webmaster Guide (www.KlixxxU.com).Every member of the EuroRevenue traffic program is eligible for a free subscription to this invaluable industry resource. Webmasters are asked to log into their admins at www.EuroRevenue.com for information on how to expeditiously redeem this unprecedented, no-strings-attached offer. A 200-page e-book normally priced at $39.95, the Adult Webmaster Guide is, the Klixxx University site explains, "the first and only print publication dedicated to the advancement of webmasters." The guide runs the gamut, filled with essential business information, articles and advice that will benefit newbies and veterans alike. Basics like web hosting and domain name purchase are covered, as are more heady and eclectic topics like traffic generation and 2257 compliance.Subscribers also receive access to the guide's members area, which contains special updates and a clutch of valuable tips and tricks. A TGP tutorial is now available as well.EuroRevenue owner Joe is delighted to be able to offer the Adult Webmaster Guide to affiliates. "Klixxx has been a touchstone for innovation and forward-thinking ideas since the dawning of this industry. The Adult Webmaster Guide is an indispensable resource for our affiliates. It contains empowering information everyone needs to know, information that can serve as the precursor to bold, new marketing strategies and help us all monetize traffic more effectively."The folks at Klixxx are equally excited about the partnership."Joe recognizes the value of webmaster affiliate education," shared JoeD of Klixxx Webmaster Magazine. "Klixxx has long been recognized for successfully promoting strong global programs coming out of Europe and this collaboration with Joe provides value and supports our core mission of helping webmasters and sponsors to continue to maximize their revenues."Maximizing webmaster revenues is, as always, EuroRevenue's first order of business. In the weeks ahead, the company will launch HeidiPorn.com, a site built around the notorious DVD series based on the famous character of Swiss literature. To start your subscription to Klixxx University Adult Webmaster Guide, visit www.EuroRevenue.com now.

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FBI to Address 2257 Inspections at XBIZ Hollywood Conference

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LOS ANGELES — The FBI has agreed to send special agent Chuck Joyner to speak on the 2257 seminar panel at the upcoming XBIZ Hollywood Conference, Feb. 7-8, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, Calif. The panel in question will take place Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 10:00 a.m., in the main seminar hall of the venue.
Agent Joyner will join industry attorneys on a panel devoted to an in-depth discussion of 2257, with a focus on the inspections process. Joyner will open with a presentation designed to provide specific information about the purpose of inspections, how to prepare and behave during an inspection, and (without naming specific companies) the areas of non-compliance that inspectors have encountered during previous inspections. A brief Q&A session will follow, after which the industry attorneys will join the panel for the second part of the seminar. Attorneys invited to speak are Paul Cambria, Jeffrey Douglas and Gregory Piccionelli.
In 2006, Joyner was selected to create and implement an inspection program to conduct inspections pursuant to 18 USC 2257. In this capacity, he was instrumental in developing the FBI’s policies and procedures for the 2257 inspection process. Joyner continues to serve as the FBI lead inspector on 2257 inspections and has been personally involved in all but one of the 2257 inspections of adult companies over the past several months. He also was present at the Washington, D.C., meeting in October with several adult companies and industry attorneys.
“This is an unprecedented event and we hope that anyone who is able will make time to attend this seminar, and the conference as a whole,” said XBIZ Publisher Tom Hymes. “This particular seminar is about providing invaluable information about a 2257 inspection that could happen to anyone, at any time. It is about being as prepared as possible, and we want to thank Agent Joyner and the FBI in advance for engaging in a level of direct discussion with the industry that has never taken place before.”
For more information about the XBIZ Hollywood ‘07 Industry Conference and seminars, or to register, please visit here. For more information about the XBIZ Awards, please visit here.

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Adam and Eve Launches WebFlixxx

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CHATSWORTH, Calif. - Adam & Eve Pictures has introduced its newest project with WebFlixxx, an internet only line of content. The first four companies to be distributed under WebFlixxx are Vanilla DeVille, Cataline Cruz, MILF Riders and Digital Dreamgirls.
-advertisement-Peter Reynolds, VP of sales and marketing for Adam & Eve, said, "I am thrilled to bring these four new lines to consumers all over the world in a wide variety of platforms. They already have built-in audiences and I know they are going to be even more massively successful with the launch of these DVD lines under WebFlixxx."
Reynolds explained that Vanilla DeVille, the muse for the first of the four lines, has built up a large following on line from her additional appearances in magazines such as Playboy and on adult sites. DeVille will celebrate seven years on-line with an exclusive DVD distribution deal with Webflixxx. She can be found at www.vanilladeville.com.
Catalina Cruz, the basis for the company's second line, has been in the business for seven years, running her own adult company, Fantasy Girl Entertainment LLC with her partner Brandon Michaels, besides contributing to www.catalinacruz.com.
Platinum Bucks in Toronto unveils MILF Riders, the third line for the company. The site hosts hot, horny mom's at www.milfriders.com.
Rounding out the newly launched lines is Digital Dreamgirls, the project of J. Stephen Hicks, photographer. With over 20 years of experience shooting for Playboy and Penthouse, Hicks looks to bring viewers some of the most beautiful girls on-line. Digital Dreamgirls is at www.digitaldreamgirls.com.
The first release from WebFlixxx will be "Licensed to Blow" from Catalina Cruz. The projected street date is May 15.

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WebsCutest.com, The Adult MySpace, Expands to New Hosts

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WebsCutest.com , an adult-only social community site similar to the ultra popular MySpace.com where teenagers and even adults and elders hang out to socialize, is growing at a rapid pace and has had to change hosting providers to keep up with demand. The website which opened up in its present format has quickly out grown its present server capacity.
WebsCutest.com is open to adult aged 18 and above only, and there is online monitoring over the site in order to stop any postings and submission from minors in order to protect them from sexual predators and pedophiles. Said founder Mr. Parent "our members are also actively let us know which profiles appear to be fakes and which appear to be from persons under the age of 18" he continued "they appreciate the fact that these profiles are deleted and the users IP address banned".
Members of WebsCutest.com are encouraged to post erotic and racy photos in their profiles. The great thing about the site is its continuing evolvement. New features are added on a regular basis, last month a video section similar to Youtube.com was added where members can upload videos to the site. Mr. Parent went on to say "we now have a small adult directory and in the near future we plan on allowing bands and night clubs to create special profiles where they can advertise for free. Since all of our membership is over 18 we feel those industries will be successful advertising on our site and well its free".

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MySpace Files Suit Against Self Proclaimed Spam King

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Scott Richter has made the news again - not because his OptinRealBig.com, CPAEmpire.com and Media Breakaway operations contributed any landmark efforts to the online industry, but for creating what is quickly coming to be known as "MySpam". Fox Interactive Media filed a complaint on Monday in a U.S. District Court against Richter for sending spam messages throughout the MySpace.com social network that were disguised as messages from members to other MySpace members.The lawsuit alleges that Richter and his operations, listed above, arranged for millions of MySpace bulletins to be sent out through the system between July and December of 2006. MySpace is hoping for a permanent injunction that would bar Richter and his affiliated businesses from the site entirely, as well as unspecified monetary damage charges.MySpace charges that the defendants violated The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, The CAN-SPAM Act, The Electronic Communications Privacy Act, California's Anti-Spam Statue - oh yeah, and breach of contract and unfair competition too. Another charge is perhaps the most frightening of the others, the one that says the defendants promoted false and misleading information for commercial or unlawful purposes, as well as attempting to impersonate MySpace members. What happened is this - Richter's phony messages promoted things like fake free ring tones, free shirts and T-Mobile Sidekick 3s that once clicked on, allowed the spammers to collect log-in information and passwords of MySpace users via phishing and third-party lists. After they retrieved that information, they used those accounts to log-in to the system and send spam.Aside from Richter, the MySpace suit also named co-conspirators Marat Nigmatzyanov, Yevgeniy Leshinskiy as well as other "unnamed collaborators" who participated in these spam-related violations. But Richter is not new to such charges. Calling himself the "Spam King," he and his OptinRealBig.com firm reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General in relation to another spam-related suit back in 2005, which lead to a bankruptcy filing for OptinRealBig.com in the same year.Many legal and industry insiders are saying that this case will be landmark in many ways, serving as an example to others who might consider attacking these popular social networks with spam, phishing scams or other illegal activities. Some Netizens, however, don't see spam as anything more than an e-mail box annoyance, but in cases like these it can cost thousands of dollars - both to MySpace specifically and to the members individually. MySpace currently has over 140 million members.

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NetCash Offers Anonymous Internet Payment Solution

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Chipping away at barriers that prevent many consumers from completing online transactions, NetCash has recently launched an anonymous payment solution that can be purchased online and at more than 52,000 retail outlets.
NetCash added its first group of merchants in November 2006 and now boasts an expanding roster of adult and mainstream merchant partners. Its adult clients include YanksCash, Atlas Multimedia (PornStarDollars), CuriousCash, Sex On The Side, Real Sex Cash, ARS and Blazing Bucks.
“I think all types of consumers are worried about Internet transactions,” NetCash CEO Peter Shapiro told XBIZ. “There’s ID theft, and on the adult side there are anonymity concerns. Plus, who wants to fill out long forms and give out credit card information to numerous websites? By using NetCash, consumers can feel safe knowing that their transactions are safe, secure and anonymous.”
NetCash works in a fashion similar to a debit card. Consumers can purchase NetCash in increments of $25 (with a maximum of $100), which gets them an access code and PIN number that can be used on NetCash’s merchants’ join pages. If the consumer signs up for a paysite with recurring billing and their NetCash balance doesn’t cover the total cost of the transaction, the consumer’s credit card on file with NetCash will be charged until their NetCash account is replenished.
Shapiro points out that what he believes sets NetCash apart from the competition is the payment solution’s availability at more than 52,000 retail locations. While NetCash is not a physical card, online shoppers can print out a confirmation page from the NetCash website, bring it to a participating retailer, pay cash for NetCash and their accounts are activated instantly.
Consumers can enter their Zip code on the NetCash site to find their closest participating retailer including certain 7-Eleven, CVS, Kmart, Ralphs and Vons locations.
“I think our competition misses the boat by not having a consumer-facing product that people can use and understand easily,” Shapiro said. “We set out to design an easy product with an easy-to-remember name that is easy for merchants to add to their sites. Because of security and privacy issues, conversion rates are low. If one out of every 100 clicks results in a sale, that’s pretty good, but what about the other 99? If we can get just one more out of those 99, we just doubled our merchants’ business. We don’t believe in creating barriers for purchasers.”
On the NetCash consumer-side interface, customers can manage all their payments, debits and recurring transactions in one window. NetCash supports all types of billing platforms, including single purchases, subscriptions, trial offers and recurring billing. NetCash customers also can cancel their recurring billing accounts through the interface to avoid confusing cancellation instructions, Shapiro said.
NetCash is free to consumers and makes its money by charging merchants a sliding fee per transaction.
The principals of NetCash have their roots in online business. Shapiro was part of Interactive Search Holdings, which was comprised of iWon.com; advertising network MaxOnline.com; MyWay.com; Excite.com; and SmileyCentral.com. Interactive Search Holdings was sold to AskJeeves.com (now Ask.com) for $500 million.

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Playboy TV Restructures Programming Team;Todd Schwartz is vice president, programming

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Los Angeles, CA – January 22, 2007 – In a restructuring of its programming team, the Playboy Entertainment Group has hired Todd Schwartz as vice president, programming for Playboy TV and promoted Michael Spierer to the position of vice president, programming for adult networks. Both will report to Bryan Postlethwait, senior vice president, programming.“Todd and Michael are part of a newly redesigned programming team for the Playboy Entertainment Group,” said Postlethwait, “The company is taking an aggressive approach to developing innovative content in an effort to attract new viewers and to expand the demographic for both our linear television channels and for emerging platforms like SVOD and Mobile. We’re happy to have Todd join the team and proud to recognize Michael’s achievements here at Playboy.”Schwartz will be responsible for the planning, directing and controlling of content for Playboy TV and other expanding media platforms. He joins Playboy from Branded Media Corporation where he served as senior vice president, strategic development. Prior to that, he worked as head of alternative program development and production for Court TV where he executive produced the reality series “Heir Hunters,” “Takedown,” and “Fake Out.” He also worked as senior supervising producer for Martha Stewart Living Television where he produced and launched the “Petkeeping” series and produced “From Martha’s Home” and “From Martha’s Garden” for HGTV. He served at VH1 as vice president, original programming and production where he developed the reality/documentary series “Video Timeline;” the Emmy-nominated “Rock Story;” the game show “Rock & Roll Jeopardy” and the “VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.” Before VH1 he worked six years at NBC Entertainment. Schwartz graduated from Indiana University, School of Business, with a B.S. in Marketing/Advertising.Spierer will be responsible for the planning, directing and controlling of content for Playboy’s Spice Digital Networks which include the Club Jenna Channel, Fresh!, Spice:Xcess and shorteez., as well as other expanding media platforms. Spierer was promoted to vice president from the title of director, programming, for the Playboy Entertainment Group. He joined Playboy in 1999 and is a graduate of California State University Northridge with a B.A. in Film Production.

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Mansion Productions Named XBIZ Hollywood Conference Seminar Sponsor

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LOS ANGELES — Mansion Productions, makers of affiliate program management software, has been named an official seminar sponsor of the XBIZ Hollywood ’07 Industry Conference.
Established in 1997, Mansion Productions creates and implements backend software programs that make it easier for affiliate programs to monitor payouts, conduct stat tracking and organize content more efficiently. Its programs include MPA3 affiliate stat tracking software, the MAS (Members Area System) program that updates members areas automatically with new text, images and videos, the CSS automatic shopping cart, and VIST, a new content management system for automation of electronic video stores.
The XBIZ Hollywood '07 Industry Conference is the adult entertainment industry's next-generation annual conference. Set against the Hollywood glamour of the Roosevelt Hotel, the event will unite the power centers of the industry for two days of intensive workshops, seminars and networking opportunities. The conference takes place Feb. 7-8, and culminates with the 5th Annual XBIZ Awards at the Highlands on Feb. 8.
“Mansion Productions is a technology-driven company that deserves a prominent place in the XBIZ Hollywood Conference,” XBIZ Sales Manager Kristen Kaye said. “This conference is all about new technology and innovation, which will continue the evolution of the adult industry. Mansion’s software is at the forefront of this development, so it’s great to have them on board as a sponsor of the great, hands-on seminars and workshops we have planned.”
The XBIZ Hollywood ’07 Industry Conference boasts an impressive slate of informative, targeted seminars and interactive workshops. With a focus on content production, marketing, innovative technologies and survival strategies, XBIZ has tapped renowned experts in their fields to speak and lecture.
“It’s a natural fit to sponsor the XBIZ Hollywood Conference because it is right in our backyard,” Mansion Productions CEO Oystein Wright told XBIZ. “We are looking forward to another great show, and anticipate that the seminars and workshops will be as good as the XBIZ Summer Forums were — if not even better.”
Mansion Productions joins Epoch, PrideBucks and WorldWideContent as seminar sponsors.

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Report: Consumers Interested in IPTV Programming

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NEW YORK — More than 37 percent of broadband users are interested in Internet protocol TV programming, despite the fact that business models for delivering digital video content online have yet to emerge, a recent Jupiter Research report found.
According to the report, interest among users in IPTV programming remains high, even though many media companies, studios and networks have failed to identify a commercially viable economic model.
“Broadband video nicely complements TV today, but this grace period won't last forever,” Jupiter Research analyst Joe Laszlo said. “Substitution of Internet video for traditionally delivered video will grow over the next few years, and media companies must account for this coming audience shift in their mid-to-long-term plans.”
While the report stopped short of suggesting strategies for ways to monetize IPTV traffic, it did say users most frequently viewed video content online when friends recommended a clip or when a search engine query yielded a particular result.
“There are many tactics that media programmers should employ to increase interest in online video,” Jupiter Research President David Schatsky said. “For example, by including an ‘email this video’ link on a page, or using URLs short enough to paste into an instant message window, programmers can facilitate audience growth.”
Although the report finds that many users are interested in the potential of IPTV, it makes no predictions about which delivery system will win out, saying that for now, IPTV will compete with download sales and rentals, subscription services and ad-supported free services for the online video market.

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Too Much High-Definition?

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Is high-definition too much definition?
The adult industry once again got mainstream press attention in a New York Times article that ran today about the industry's upcoming move to high-definition and the problems it presents to performers, especially female ones.
Here's the problem: High-def reveals every imperfection on performers, no matter how slight. Wicked contract star Kirsten Price had a laser treatment done to get rid of tiny purple veins on her thighs. Vivid contract star Savanna Samson had to rearrange a scene in her directing debut, Any Way You Want Me, to conceal an inconveniently placed pimple.
Jesse Jane's upcoming breast surgery on E! Entertainment Television's reality show Dr. 90210 comes just in time for the industry's switch to high-def. Jane told XFANZ that she wanted to get her breasts redone so they would look better on a high-def screen.
Dr. 90210 follows high-profile plastic surgeons from Beverly Hills, Calif., as they perform breast augmentations, tummy-tucks, rhinoplasties and other procedures on celebrities and regular people.
"High-def is great because you can see everything, but sometimes you can see a little too much," Jane said.
Jane said she originally had her breast implants inserted over the muscle, and that she plans to have the implants moved under the muscle when she goes under the knife of Dr. 90210's Dr. Motykie on Feb. 12. Jane said the program will tape her consultation with the doctor this Thursday.
"[Dr. Motykie] is really good, really funny and nice," Jane said. "And he can't mess up because they're on TV!"
Jane explained that an over-the-muscle breast implant feels "more real," while an under-the-muscle implant looks better.
She also said that although she didn't sweat her first breast surgery, she's a little nervous about this one.
"It's a longer recovery time," she said. "And I want to make sure they're perfect because they're my boobs."
Jane said that her operation would put her in bed for a full week but only keep her from performing for a month. It will not interfere with her upcoming appearance in Digital Playground's Pirates II, which she said will keep her busy for 31 days -- the longest adult shoot she's ever been a part of.
"It's going to be a harder shoot because we're doing a lot more stuff," she said. "Now that there are expectations, we have to step it up."
As with the first Pirates, Digital Playground will release a triple-X- and an R-rated cut of the movie, with plans to distribute the R-rated cut through mainstream outlets.

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Roosevelt Hotel Nears Capacity as XBIZ Hollywood Conference Approaches

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HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Officials at the Roosevelt Hotel, which will host the upcoming XBIZ Hollywood ’07 Industry Conference, have said that rooms in the historic venue are running out quickly, with the hotel rapidly nearing capacity.
XBIZ Sales and Marketing Manager Kristen Kaye said the run on rooms proves the high demand for the upcoming show, which aims to bring together all elements of the adult entertainment industry.
“This is clearly going to be an historic event,” Kaye said. “I want to thank our sponsors and all the industry professionals who made their plans early for helping XBIZ launch a dynamic and engaging conference unlike any the adult industry has ever seen.”
Kaye said that while room availability was quickly diminishing, she wanted to urge industry professionals to take advantage of a special show rate at the Roosevelt. By using the group code “XBIZ,” attendees can book rooms at $189 per night.
The XBIZ Hollywood '07 Industry Conference is the adult entertainment industry's next-generation annual conference. Set against the Hollywood glamour of the Roosevelt Hotel, the event will unite the power centers of the industry for two days of intensive workshops, seminars and networking opportunities. The conference takes place Feb. 7-8, and culminates with the 5th Annual XBIZ Awards at the Highlands on Feb. 8.

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Private to Increase Mobile Distribution Coverage

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BARCELONA, Spain — In its first quarter projections for 2007, Private Media Group said it plans to increase its mobile distribution coverage by 130 million handsets, bringing its total to 674 million possible users over the next several months.
Private Media, which produces and distributes adult content for DVD, online and mobile platforms, said it expects to boost its mobile reach when 12 new carriers go live in eight new territories.
The new territories include Japan, Argentina, Canada, Hong Kong, Columbia, Ecuador, Sweden and Finland.
“Private is aggressively developing the global distribution of its mobile content,” Private director of mobile operations Tim Clausen said. “We are currently the dominant adult content provider in Europe. The focus in 2007 will be on developing incremental distribution in the Asia Pacific region and Latin America.”
In addition to expanding its global reach, Clausen said Private would capitalize on predictions made by analysts at Jupiter Research.
Late last year, the research firm predicted the worldwide mobile adult content market would be worth more than $3 billion by 2011. The firm put the current value of the mobile adult market at just over $1 billion. According to the Jupiter projections, video-based services will account for 70 percent of all revenue generated from mobile adult content by 2011.
“In view of the projected global growth in video-based mobile services, and our extensive top-quality content library and well established Private brand, we are in a strong strategic position to further grow our mobile business in this area,” Clausen said. “It is important to understand that this expected growth is not only coming from carriers where we will go live, but also from those where we have existing distribution.”

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Novell Launches Vista/Linux Comparison Site

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WALTHAM, Mass. — Novell has launched a Vista/Linux comparison site in anticipation of the Jan 31 release of Microsoft’s new operating system.
The site, which offers an admittedly biased opinion — Novell makes competing Linux-based operating system SLED 10 — allows users to compare the two products on performance, capabilities and cost.
“With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, you receive over 90 percent of the functionality of Vista and Office for less than 10 percent of the price,” Novell’s site claims in its pricing section.
SLED retails for $50, while Vista will sell in stores for $299.
While both Novell and Microsoft have worked together to solve the problem of Linux/Windows interoperability, many technology pundits have said that the partnership is one of convenience, with the two companies looking for any available advantage in the battle for the next generation of operating systems.
In addition to taking on Microsoft’s relatively high price, Novell also took the Redmond, Wash.-based software firm to task on Vista’s security. The site accuses Microsoft of failing to make security a priority for the new operating system.
“There's a lot of focus on Vista because of the impending launch, so we thought it was timely to do this,” Novell spokesman Bruce Lowry said.
Despite the self-promotion, Lowry conceded that the Linux share of the desktop operating system market was “very small.”
For its part, Microsoft seems more concerned with how Vista will compare to its last big launch — Windows XP — than with any threat from Linux-based operating systems.
“Each time Microsoft puts out a piece of software, they’re competing with their own previous software,” industry analyst Matt Rosoff said. “Now, there’s not that much extra stuff in the plumbing that they can do. There’s not going to be the big, obvious leap."
To see Novell’s side-by-side comparison, click here.

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First ever LIVE ADULT DOMAIN AUCTION Internext Las Vegas 2007

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Moniker.com and Internext V2.0 teamed up to host this history making event held on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 from 3:00p.m. - 7:00p.m. at the rejuvenated and highly touted AVN event held at Mandalay Bay.The live auction was conducted by Monte Cahn, CEO of Moniker.com, and a professional auctioneer and the silent auction hosted online runs through the 24th. The next Moniker live auction, expected to the largest to date, will be held for the fourth time in conjunction with the TRAFFIC shows co-founded by Rick Schwartz. The TRAFFIC West/Moniker.com live auction will be presented March 7th, 2007 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. For more information visit www.moniker.com and www.targetedtraffic.com.Here are the winning bids of the Internext Auction; thanks to all for making it a great success!Remember: the Silent Auction is OPEN now through Wednesday January 24th at 12pm.
Domain Name
Sold Price
Domain Name
Sold Price
shemale.com
$520,000
nakedfriends.com
$5,000
BDSM.com
$295,000
prescriptiondrugplans.com
$5,000
interracialsex.com
$150,000
slavegirls.com
$4,750
opportunity.com
$150,000
asianmales.com
$4,500
handjob.com
$90,000
asianhookers.com
$4,250
kinkysex.com
$88,500
lonelyhousewife.com
$4,250
Teenmodels.com
$80,000
hornygals.com
$4,000
gaypride.com
$60,000
Cuffed.com
$3,750
censored.com
$58,500
Jizz.net
$3,600
submission.com
$42,000
lickmynuts.com
$3,250
xxxcams.com
$30,000
PROFESSIONALATHLETES.COM
$3,100
asianteensex.com
$17,500
WASHBOARDABS.COM
$3,000
violated.com
$15,500
sexcamp.com
$3,000
behind.com
$13,000
bustylesbians.com
$2,750
hotlips.com
$12,000
freeamateurpics.com
$2,500
Sucked.com
$12,000
fullofcum.com
$2,500
AmateurPictures.com
$12,000
straponfemdom.com
$2,500
sexyunderwear.com
$11,500
sexualfantasy.com
$2,500
blowjob.net
$11,000
hollywoodescortservice.com
$2,250
EmergencyClinic.com
$11,000
businesspermits.com
$2,250
bondage.net
$11,000
networkingdevices.com
$2,250
pornclub.com
$11,000
PUBLICSERVICEANNOUNCEMENTS.COM
$2,100
SEXFINDERS.COM
$8,500
Sodomy.net
$2,000
CelebrityMovie.com
$8,500
mobileprinters.com
$2,000
nudefriends.com
$7,500
brokerageaccounts.com
$2,000
FuneralParlor.com
$7,000
onlinecheckingaccount.com
$1,800
bondagepics.com
$6,750
picturegalleries.com
$1,750
upskirtpics.com
$6,500
SubmissiveMen.com
$1,750
analsex.net
$6,500
cocksuckingwhore.com
$1,500
inherited.com
$6,100
Bartab.com
$1,500
voyeurpictures.com
$6,000
ONLINESEXDATING.COM
$1,250
MaritalAids.com
$6,000
THENATIONALDEBT.COM
$1,200
Opposites.com
$6,000
SPACESHUTTLELAUNCH.COM
$1,100
Boned.com
$6,000
gaymen.org
$1,000
pube.com
$6,000
SexCartoons.mobi
$1,000
gayamateur.com
$6,000
sexphotographs.com
$1,000
adultbusiness.com
$6,000
SoccerMilf.com
$800
anal.org
$5,500
promiscuity.com
$750
handjob.net
$5,500
CLITORALPUMPS.COM
$600
blondes.org
$5,500
FreeSexClips.mobi
$600
OralSex.org
$5,500
dickhead.net
$500
MILITARYDRAFT.COM
$5,200
RentAPornMovie.com
$500
restraint.com
$5,000
sexsites.org
$500
niceass.net
$5,000
XXXAdultBookStore.com
$200 Remember: the Silent Auction is OPEN now through Wednesday January 24th at 12pm.

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Laura Bush: Do More to Stop Child Porn

Washington- Laura Bush said at a gathering of first ladies Wednesday that police must work with counterparts in other countries to keep children safe from abuse and Internet pornographers.French first lady Bernadette Chirac hosted the one-day conference on missing and exploited children, which brought together first ladies including Suzanne Mubarak of Egypt and Lyudmila Putin of Russia, as well as Queen Silvia of Sweden and Queen Paola of Belgium.Mrs. Bush briefed participants on efforts to protect children in the United States, touting the Amber Alert system that mobilizes TV, radio and highway signs to get word out whenever a child goes missing.'So far, Amber Alerts have saved more than 300 young lives in the United States, and similar programs are now saving lives in countries across the globe, including France,' she said.France's new system, modeled on the U.S. alerts, helped authorities track down three missing children last week.The women proposed that the system be extended throughout the European Union, so all its member nations are alerted when a child goes missing.Mrs. Bush said the U.S. alert system helped increase the percentage of missing children found to 94 percent today, compared to 62 percent in 1990.The first lady also urged international cooperation in fighting online child pornography. She cited the case of a police officer in Denmark who found child pornography online and alerted Interpol. Eventually, the FBI traced images of an abused girl to North Carolina and a relative of the child was sentenced to 100 years in prison.The relative had 175,000 images on his computer, and police used them to track down other child abusers. 'Because one person in Denmark tipped off Interpol, four children in the United States were saved,' Mrs. Bush said.The conference was a meeting of the honorary board of directors of the International Center for Missing & Exploited Children, based in Alexandria, Va. A study by the group examined all 186 Interpol member countries and found that up to 95 of them had no laws on child pornography, while 136 of them do not consider possession of child pornography a crime.'This is a global phenomenon, and if we do nothing, it will become a huge epidemic,' Mrs. Mubarak said.

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DVD Security Group Investigates Next-Gen Copyright Breach

LOS ANGELES — An anti-piracy technology consortium said it was in the process of investigating claims by hackers that they had cracked digital copyright protections used in next-generation DVDs.
Nearly a week ago, a loose confederation of hackers announced that they had breached the security software designed to protect next-generation DVDs from unauthorized copying. To prove their claims, the hackers distributed copies of “Serenity,” a Universal Pictures film, on the file-sharing site BitTorrent.
Michael Ayers, the chairman of the security consortium behind the Advanced Access Content System (AACS), said it was too early determine the extent of the breach.
“There are reports that indicate success by a number of hackers,” Ayers said. “We're still evaluating and determining what the most appropriate course of action is.”
Although the breached title was an HD DVD release — Universal uses the format exclusively — a hole in the security software could potentially affect both formats. Blu-ray uses the same encryption system, but adds an additional layer of proprietary protection not provided by AACS.
Ayers said he viewed the attack as serious, but not catastrophic.
“It’s like somebody picked the lock on an individual house, but he has not discovered the secrets to lock-making at the master padlock company,” Ayers said. “We look at it as an attack on one particular implementation. It doesn't breach the security of the AACS technology as a whole, because that one implementation can be fixed. Once it's fixed, then that attack no longer works.”
Bill Rosenblatt, president of security consulting firm GiantSteps, agreed with Ayers, putting the breach in historic perspective.
The 1999 breach hackers exploited for standard DVDs was far worse, Rosenblatt said.
Bruce Schneier of security firm BT Counterpane said the breach was more serious than Ayers or Rosenblatt were willing to admit.
“Data is inherently copyable, just as water is inherently wet,” he said. “All the technology companies are doing is putting in tricks to make it harder to copy. But all they are is tricks.”
Ayers would not say which DVD-viewing software the hackers had targeted.
A report in the New York Times identified the software as WinDVD.
InterVideo, which was bought by Canada-based Corel last month, manufacturs the WinDVD software. Company spokesman Andy Markin said Corel couldn’t be certain if a breach had occurred, but added that the firm had disabled several software codes as a precaution.

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IMDb Blocks XXX Movies

CYBERSPACE — The Internet Movie Database, aka IMDb, conceals all listings for triple-X movies, as well as mainstream titles that feature explicit action.
A representative for IMDb said that this wasn't news.
"This is not a new feature and has been present on our site for many years," the representative told XFANZ in an e-mail.
Here's what's happening: Visit IMDb.com and search for, say, Deep Throat. Its listing doesn't come up. Search for Deep Throat star Linda Lovelace. Her listing doesn't come up.
Now search for the 2005 mainstream documentary Inside Deep Throat. That doesn't come up, either, but if you search for the documentary's co-director, Fenton Bailey, his listing does appear -- presumably because he has a host of other mainstream credits. That's the only way you can see Inside Deep Throat's IMDb listing.
Despite IMDb's contention that this policy has been around for many years, Inside Deep Throat co-director Randy Barbato hadn't heard about it.
"That's so outrageous," he told XFANZ. "Just unbelievable. It's unbelievable whether you're on the mainstream side or not."
The censor-sweep into mainstream cinema doesn't stop there, though. Vincent Gallo's arthouse movie The Brown Bunny also doesn't come up on an IMDb search, presumably because it features explicit oral sex.
Some exceptions include the IMDb pages for Jenna Jameson and Ron Jeremy, which both appear in normal searches.
Also, after filing a complaint, John Cameron Mitchell's explicit arthouse movie Shortbus now appears in a simple search again. Mitchell has maintained that Shortbus isn't an adult movie, despite its sex scenes.
Registered users can avoid the blocks mandated by the policy, which the IMDb explains on their site:
The IMDb contains over 400,000 different movie titles. The aim of the database is to cover as many titles and genres as possible. As a result, some of these titles contain words or expressions that some of our users may find inappropriate and some movies themselves may also fall into this category.
Registered users can change their IMDb settings on the preferences page.
So far, reaction among adult industry professionals has been mixed. Corruption director Bo Kenney told XFANZ the new IMDb policy was no big deal, while Inserts director Roy Karch disapproved of it.
"I think we should be on there," Karch told XFANZ. "Like Tony Montana says in Scarface, 'Are we not men?' We've always been the orphan child, but now we've been allowed in the main room. Once you do that, it's hard to show us out the back door."

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First Phisher Convicted Under CAN-SPAM Act

LOS ANGELES — The CAN-SPAM Act showed that it has teeth for phishers, too. A California man became the first phisher found guilty by a jury under the CAM-SPAM Act, created in 2003 as a legal recourse to prosecute spammers who send unsolicited, fraudulent emails.
After a week-long trial, Jeffrey Goodin was found guilty of sending fraudulent emails that tricked America Online users into giving their bank and credit card account numbers. Goodin used EarthLink accounts to send emails that looked as if they were being sent from AOL’s billing department.
Sixteen victims of Goodin’s testified at his trial and said they were fooled by his emails. Goodin’s fake emails warned users that their accounts would be shut down unless they emailed bank or credit card numbers to keep their accounts current.
“This was sort of the ideal case that I think Congress had targeted with the CAN-SPAM Act,” said Wesley Hsu, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Justice Department. “This guy changed the sending email to make it look like an AOL billing address and as a result we had lots of victims fooled, thinking they’d lose their AOL service if they didn’t give them their billing information.”
Hsu also was involved in the first guilty plea under the CAN-SPAM law.
According to an EarthLink official who testified at the trial, the company lost more than $1 million in Goodin’s scam.
Goodin could face up to 101 years in prison for violating CAN-SPAM and other laws. He will be sentenced June 11. Partially because of Goodin and other spammers, AOL barred certain EarthLink subscribers from accessing its network.

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Democratic Control Doesn’t Mean a Free Ride

LAS VEGAS - Despite the Democratic sweep of the November elections, which pushed right-wing Republicans into the congressional minority, the adult industry faces a continuing threat from the government.
"We’re never out of the woods, because both parties like to use the adult industry as a whipping boy, just one of them a little less," warned Larry Walters, the moderator of the "War on Porn" panel featuring First Amendment attorneys Clyde DeWitt, Greg Piccionelli, Jennifer Kinsley, and Reed Lee.
DeWitt, a veteran adult industry lawyer, noted that a number of laws that adult companies find contentious were drafted and enacted by a Democratic-led Congresses.
Piccionelli suggested that the upcoming presidential election was the best opportunity for the adult entertainment industry to make its mark on future legislation. "You are more influential than you probably realize," he said. "You have the ability to influence the next presidential election and, thus, the ability to influence the nature of the Supreme Court for years to come."
The panelists provided an overview of the current legal battles—specifically the legality of Child Online Protection Act, 2257, and the Extreme Associates federal obscenity case—that will set the tone of the future, and they encouraged increased participation in the Free Speech Coalition, the adult industry trade group that backs legal fights against legislation that negatively affects the industry.
Acknowledging that the American Civil Liberties Union’s successful challenge of the constitutionality of COPA has placed the law on the backburner, DeWitt suggested that adult companies still follow the letter of that particular law as a protection in case a minor somehow does access adult entertainment. "That way, you can say that you’ve done what the United States Congress has suggested, and that will help your defense."
Kinsley, who represents Extreme Associates, provided an update of its obscenity case, which isn’t expected to go to court this calendar year. "That means we’ll probably outlast the Bush administration, and when we started this case, I remember saying that if we outlast the Bush administration, we’ll win."

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MySpace.com to Put the Ball Back in the Parental Court

In what analysts are calling a smart move, MySpace.com has announced that it is developing a new software that will give parents a "window" into what their children are putting on their online community profiles. MySpace.com, the popular social networking site that has come under fire from both parental organizations and the American government alike, has been working hard to develop new ways to keep minors who use the website "safe."But how safe can any minor be on a site that puts its users in community connection with millions of users worldwide? As with other networking tools - instant messaging, online chat and even e-mail - parents have a duty to monitor their own child's usage of these programs to protect them from online predators and cyber-abuse.The new monitoring software is meant to be installed by parents on a home computer to view what any MySpace user on that computer lists as his or her profile name, age and location - giving parents a "window" into the full use of the MySpace community by its family members. This will help many parents whose children have been "smart enough" to create alternate profiles - one to show mom and grandma, and another to really use when talking to friends and meeting strangers online. The software doesn't give parents access to the content of the MySpace profiles - and it is not a "spy tool" per say in that the program does notify each user that their profiles are being monitored by their parents or guardians. The program - which is currently code-named Zephyr - does not have a current release date. News Corp., the company that owns MySpace.com, has been working tirelessly to find a solution to allegations that the social network "endangers teenagers' safety" because it makes it easy to share personal information over the Internet. It is expected that MySpace will receive criticism from privacy advocates who claim Zephyr is "invasive" and from parents, who will likely always claim that it doesn't do enough. But MySpace.com isn't totally taking mom and dad's side on the issue. In fact, its chief security officer Hemanshu Nigam said "one of our goals is to empower parents to engage in conversation with their teens about Internet safety." Zephyr will "empower parents" by giving them insight into whether their kids are using fake names, lying about their ages, creating multiple accounts or giving out too much details about where they live, the school they go to and where they hang out. Nigam added, "By enabling parents to 'check' their teen's age and have conversations, if necessary, with their teens to use the appropriate age, we are creating an even safer community for our users."

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Firefox Web Browsers Find Lancing City Council Website Unexpectedly Saucy

LANCING, MI -- When Web users step outside of the Microsoft box there's just no end of strange delights that await them. Recently, users of the Mozilla Firefox browser who visited the Lancing City Council site found that it led to unexpectedly exotic pleasures -- exotic pleasures not available to users of Internet Explorer, Safari, or other such browsers.Specifically, visitors that clicked on the site's newsletter headline found themselves transported to a 2002 photo of Playboy model Feather Frazier. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it wasn't what folks hoping to read about the more mundane goings-on of the city council likely had in mind.Browsers able to recognize the malformed URL that lead city council watchers to the adult site Frazier's photo called home stayed put, denied the sight of Frazier's assets. According to Lancing IT officials, the whole thing is just a wacky coincidence. "The configuration that has been in place and the information that is there has been there since 2004," city computer and communication services manager Eric Tumbarella explained. Given that he and his team were unable to duplicate the error, Tumbarella concluded that the state news computers were at fault.Rich Wiggins, who works as the senior information technologist for MSU's Academic Computing and Network Services agreed to some extent. "If you look at the URL, it's not valid," he pointed out. "(The browser) will do a search for the string. If you go to Google and try that string, the first hit is the picture of the Playboy model."Since browsers such as Firefox don't require complete Web address in order to load a site, such browsers would have followed the incomplete string to the infamous Frazier photo.Wiggins figures that "somebody with access to the server to the council must have pasted that string, knowing that on certain browsers it will do that search." It's also possible that the naming system for the newsletter was similar to the website in question. However it came about, Tumbarella assured visitors that the IT team was on the job and would fix everything once they figured out what had gone wrong. "It's an error we don't want," he admitted. "It will be fixed so that particular problem won't happen again."The council's newsletter has not been updates since October 31st, is searchable via Google, but is not advertised on the site's main page.

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NY Times Asks if Live Sex Shows Are Coming to Hotel TVs

NEW YORK — Hotel room entertainment could eventually feature live on-demand sex shows akin to Internet webcam performances, according to a recent New York Times article.
New York Times reporter David Johnston pondered the issue of webcam-style entertainment coming to hotel rooms after a panel discussion at Internext, where Video Secrets owner Gregory Clayman told the crowd that the adult industry could soon be selling live content to hotel chains.
“We feel that live, right now, is coming of age,” Clayman said. “We are planning to make the jump to hotel rooms.”
The hotel industry already offers pay-per-view and video-on-demand film content, and according to media research firm JupiterKagan about one-third of the $1.6 billion in sales of in-room entertainment were adult-oriented titles.
Clayman cited converging technologies that merge TVs with computers as a force that will help bring live sex content into hotel rooms.
But Anne Taulane, managing editor of Lodging magazine, who has written extensively about entertainment offerings at various hotels, said she didn’t think live sex shows would work in hotel VOD and PPV offerings, even if the technology were there.
“That would be a hard sell to the big hotel companies,” Taulane said, adding that adult content offered in hotels is heavily edited. “The porn offered now is a little more acceptable to the mainstream.”

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IE Reaches 100 Million Installations

Like a plague invading the cyber world, Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 has officially reached the 100 millionth installation marker, "proving" that it is the second most used browser in the US. Second - Microsoft officials say, only to version 6. Not sure exactly what that "proves" as most people who own PC's have Internet Explorer pre-installed on their units from the factory. Also, not sure exactly what everyone's experiences may have been with the IE7 update, but from my own experiences - and that of many colleagues that discussed this with me as well - it was anything but a voluntary experience."Rape" is the word sometimes used by PC users when referring to the strong-armed manner in which Microsoft's browser forced its installation on some units. One person I spoke with stated that the pop-up window announcing the availability of the update popped so frequently that it made conducting business via his PC nearly impossible. My own personal experience was that IE6 began having so many weird, off-the-wall errors and after contacting support I was told that the only way to fix them would be to install the new version. Once installed a whole new ball of wax opened. As a web developer there are certain tools that most of us need to have in order to function properly. Toolbars - many of which have been reported to not install properly for some IE7 users - custom menu items - again, many have reported that they are unable to install them - and of course the quirky viewing changes that typically come with a new browser version - all can hinder a web developer's daily work. So why do we keep IE7? Well, simply from a developer's viewpoint - we keep it because we "need it" to ensure that our web sites and projects will be viewable on this browser. Internet Explorer is well-known to have certain quirks when it comes to W3C standards compliance, and while many of those issues have been fixed in the new version, it still means that developers need to re-check all of their old sites and see what has been changed - and what hasn't.And here's the rub - because of this browser being pre-installed on most computers straight from the factory, companies that measure Internet usage like Web Side Story, for example, are reporting that over 25% of all users in the U.S. are now using the new IE7. This is where they are getting their facts. From the people - many of which are not aware of alternative options such as Firefox, the most popular alt. browser, Opera or any number of other free-for-use options.Until new awareness about non-Microsoft products permeates the general public, web developers will have to continue to download and use IE7 - whether they like it or not.

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Blu-Ray Disc Association: No Problem With Porn

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A spokesman for the Blu-Ray Disc Association stated this week that the organization does not seek to bar adult studios from the Blu-Ray format.
"There is not a prohibition against adult content," BDA vice-chairman Marty Gordon told Gizmodo.com. "The BDA is an open organization that welcomes the participation of all companies interested in using and supporting the format, including those that represent the full spectrum of genres in the content industry."
Gordon's remarks follow in the wake of last week's Adult Entertainment Expo, where Digital Playground owner Joone stated that Blu-Ray replicators have been refusing to handle X-rated content. Digital Playground had initially embraced the Sony-backed Blu-Ray last year, but at AEE, Joone announced that the replication issue had forced his company to switch its allegiance to HD-DVD.
Joone told website Heise.de that replicators had "unanimously declared that Sony had threatened to withdraw their Blu-Ray licenses should they stoop to making HD copies of pornographic films". Sony's current policy dictates that facilities handling Disney content for Blu-Ray are prohibited from producing adult material.
In the early days of home video, adult manufacturers' decision to support VHS video played a key role in that technology's victory over Betamax. Many attendees at the expo speculated that Blu-Ray's failure to cooperate with the porn industry would prove to be the deciding factor in the so-called format war with HD-DVD.
On March 28, Vivid Entertainment will release Paul Thomas' highly-anticipated Debbie Does Dallas...Again in Blu-Ray and HD-DVD editions, becoming the first adult studio to offer a title in both formats.
Like Joone, Hirsch confirmed that his company has encountered resistance from Sony in bring porn to Blu-Ray.
"Sony is not giving any assistance in the authoring or replication of adult content on Blu-ray," Hirsch told DailyTech.com. "Sony is somehow trying to keep away such material from the format, which I think is a mistake. [...] Part of the problem [with Blu-ray] is that it's a new format. There are very few replicators right now."
Industry sources agreed that it is too early to predict a definitive outcome in the Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD war. "Steven Hirsch has stated before that he wants the public to make the call as to which [format] is the one they want," said Vivid's national sales manager Howard Levine. "As a manufacturer, we're not going to jump on one or the other side of the fence."

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Second Day's Workshops Tackle Legal, Content Issues

LAS VEGAS - As webmasters settled into the second day of Internext, Eric M. Bernstein, a partner in the firm of Eric M. Bernstein & Associates L.L.C., wanted to make sure they didn't misconstrue the convention as just another networking and partying event. Bernstein, getting down to business, began his workshop on the brass tacks of running an adult Internet company from a legal perspective by saying, "This is a fucking business, folks, not the business of fucking."
Bernstein broke down the legal aspects of building an adult Internet business into manageable units: forming a corporation; drafting contracts and releases; acquiring/creating licensed content; copyright and trademark issues; website development; community standards awareness; and compliance with all mandates, laws, and regulations.
Bernstein focused on providing an overview of the pitfalls webmasters and affiliates run into by not forming a company properly or protecting content effectively. Some common issues he brought up were webmasters' assuming certain laws without actually knowing them. "It is not enough to say, so and so told me, so that's why I engage in this or that practice," Bernstein expressed.
By going to a lawyer, webmasters can create the proper framework for protecting intellectual property such as films, videos, or still photographs. A handshake agreement between a webmaster and an affiliate "doesn't cut it," noted Bernstein; only a written contract drafted by a professional will do, he explained.
Bernstein delivered his message with wit and wisdom, appealing to both new and established adult industry members.
In the afternoon, Oren Cohen, president of Tightfit Productions, a company that produces adult gonzo movies, began his lecture, "Content is King: How to Shoot Porn Like a Professional." "Unless you have a vision, something distinct, you should be doing something else," Cohen stated. "'Pretty good' is not good enough anymore."
Cohen's lecture was delivered with over-the-top enthusiasm—even without a microphone, he made sure audience members heard what he had to say. The adult-film maker was clear about the discipline that needs to be present in producing porn. Creativity must be met by the ability to get viewers off. Without the physical payoff, said Cohen, even the most creative porn is worthless.
He then discussed how important it is to define one's cinematic vision. "If you can't create something in your brain that is compelling…there is no accomplishment," explained Cohen. Again, this tension—the pull between making something that gets audiences off and an innovative product—permeated the filmmaker's message.
Creating adult content is very possible, so long as the producer stays true to his or her own sexual fetishes while keeping in mind the plethora of niches to which others subscribe, Cohen said. Without that discretion, he advised, a kind of "bullshit meter then appears." If one's final product—a porn movie—does not get its creator off, it probably won't get anyone else off, either, he cautioned.
The psychological aspects behind porn creation offered a refreshing air to the usual technical atmosphere of Internext workshops, and the contrasts between Bernstein's lecture on porn law and Cohen's discussion of content left the crowd feeling more confident about delving into the adult industry—an undertaking Cohen said should not be wrought with insecurity about content or fear of legal issues. "Remember," he said. "It's only porn."

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Second Day's Workshops Tackle Legal, Content Issues

LAS VEGAS - As webmasters settled into the second day of Internext, Eric M. Bernstein, a partner in the firm of Eric M. Bernstein & Associates L.L.C., wanted to make sure they didn't misconstrue the convention as just another networking and partying event. Bernstein, getting down to business, began his workshop on the brass tacks of running an adult Internet company from a legal perspective by saying, "This is a fucking business, folks, not the business of fucking."

Bernstein broke down the legal aspects of building an adult Internet business into manageable units: forming a corporation; drafting contracts and releases; acquiring/creating licensed content; copyright and trademark issues; website development; community standards awareness; and compliance with all mandates, laws, and regulations.
Bernstein focused on providing an overview of the pitfalls webmasters and affiliates run into by not forming a company properly or protecting content effectively. Some common issues he brought up were webmasters' assuming certain laws without actually knowing them. "It is not enough to say, so and so told me, so that's why I engage in this or that practice," Bernstein expressed.
By going to a lawyer, webmasters can create the proper framework for protecting intellectual property such as films, videos, or still photographs. A handshake agreement between a webmaster and an affiliate "doesn't cut it," noted Bernstein; only a written contract drafted by a professional will do, he explained.
Bernstein delivered his message with wit and wisdom, appealing to both new and established adult industry members.
In the afternoon, Oren Cohen, president of Tightfit Productions, a company that produces adult gonzo movies, began his lecture, "Content is King: How to Shoot Porn Like a Professional." "Unless you have a vision, something distinct, you should be doing something else," Cohen stated. "'Pretty good' is not good enough anymore."
Cohen's lecture was delivered with over-the-top enthusiasm—even without a microphone, he made sure audience members heard what he had to say. The adult-film maker was clear about the discipline that needs to be present in producing porn. Creativity must be met by the ability to get viewers off. Without the physical payoff, said Cohen, even the most creative porn is worthless.
He then discussed how important it is to define one's cinematic vision. "If you can't create something in your brain that is compelling…there is no accomplishment," explained Cohen. Again, this tension—the pull between making something that gets audiences off and an innovative product—permeated the filmmaker's message.
Creating adult content is very possible, so long as the producer stays true to his or her own sexual fetishes while keeping in mind the plethora of niches to which others subscribe, Cohen said. Without that discretion, he advised, a kind of "bullshit meter then appears." If one's final product—a porn movie—does not get its creator off, it probably won't get anyone else off, either, he cautioned.
The psychological aspects behind porn creation offered a refreshing air to the usual technical atmosphere of Internext workshops, and the contrasts between Bernstein's lecture on porn law and Cohen's discussion of content left the crowd feeling more confident about delving into the adult industry—an undertaking Cohen said should not be wrought with insecurity about content or fear of legal issues. "Remember," he said. "It's only porn."

http://www.protect-x.com/

Second Day's Workshops Tackle Legal, Content Issues

LAS VEGAS - As webmasters settled into the second day of Internext, Eric M. Bernstein, a partner in the firm of Eric M. Bernstein & Associates L.L.C., wanted to make sure they didn't misconstrue the convention as just another networking and partying event. Bernstein, getting down to business, began his workshop on the brass tacks of running an adult Internet company from a legal perspective by saying, "This is a fucking business, folks, not the business of fucking."
-advertisement-Bernstein broke down the legal aspects of building an adult Internet business into manageable units: forming a corporation; drafting contracts and releases; acquiring/creating licensed content; copyright and trademark issues; website development; community standards awareness; and compliance with all mandates, laws, and regulations.
Bernstein focused on providing an overview of the pitfalls webmasters and affiliates run into by not forming a company properly or protecting content effectively. Some common issues he brought up were webmasters' assuming certain laws without actually knowing them. "It is not enough to say, so and so told me, so that's why I engage in this or that practice," Bernstein expressed.
By going to a lawyer, webmasters can create the proper framework for protecting intellectual property such as films, videos, or still photographs. A handshake agreement between a webmaster and an affiliate "doesn't cut it," noted Bernstein; only a written contract drafted by a professional will do, he explained.
Bernstein delivered his message with wit and wisdom, appealing to both new and established adult industry members.
In the afternoon, Oren Cohen, president of Tightfit Productions, a company that produces adult gonzo movies, began his lecture, "Content is King: How to Shoot Porn Like a Professional." "Unless you have a vision, something distinct, you should be doing something else," Cohen stated. "'Pretty good' is not good enough anymore."
Cohen's lecture was delivered with over-the-top enthusiasm—even without a microphone, he made sure audience members heard what he had to say. The adult-film maker was clear about the discipline that needs to be present in producing porn. Creativity must be met by the ability to get viewers off. Without the physical payoff, said Cohen, even the most creative porn is worthless.
He then discussed how important it is to define one's cinematic vision. "If you can't create something in your brain that is compelling…there is no accomplishment," explained Cohen. Again, this tension—the pull between making something that gets audiences off and an innovative product—permeated the filmmaker's message.
Creating adult content is very possible, so long as the producer stays true to his or her own sexual fetishes while keeping in mind the plethora of niches to which others subscribe, Cohen said. Without that discretion, he advised, a kind of "bullshit meter then appears." If one's final product—a porn movie—does not get its creator off, it probably won't get anyone else off, either, he cautioned.
The psychological aspects behind porn creation offered a refreshing air to the usual technical atmosphere of Internext workshops, and the contrasts between Bernstein's lecture on porn law and Cohen's discussion of content left the crowd feeling more confident about delving into the adult industry—an undertaking Cohen said should not be wrought with insecurity about content or fear of legal issues. "Remember," he said. "It's only porn."

http://www.protect-x.com/

Playboy Taps Former New Frontier Media Exec

LOS ANGELES — Playboy Entertainment has tapped a former New Frontier Media executive as its lead programming chief for broadcast and DVD production.
Bryan Postlethwait, who last summer as a consultant helped Playboy redesign its Spice Digital Networks and position its newly created Club Jenna Channel, Fresh!, Spice:Xcess and shorteez channels, has been brought on permanently and named senior vice president, programming.
Postlethwait spent five years at Playboy’s No. 1 competitor, New Frontier, where he headed programming and promotions. Postlethwait earned a number of Gold and Silver Promax/BDA awards for his work at New Frontier.
At Playboy, Postlethwait will oversee the planning, production, acquisition, coordination and scheduling of all content targeted to the TV and DVD markets across the company.
“We’re happy to have Bryan join the Playboy team,” Playboy President Bob Meyers said. “His creativity and wealth of experience in both mainstream and adult programming are an asset.”
For Playboy, the Postlethwait hiring is another shot at New Frontier, which has been battling Playboy for cable and satellite viewers. In October, New Frontier CEO Ken Boenish told XBIZ that his company has increased market share by 4 percent to 200 percent in certain markets and that it declared victory in the adult TV space after Playboy revamped its lineup.

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U.N. Won’t Try to Control Internet

GENEVA — The United Nations will yield to the U.S. Commerce Department for now in the struggle to control the Internet, the head of the U.N. telecommunications agency said.
Hamadoun Toure, who assumed the role of U.N. director-general of the International Telecommunication Union in November, said the international body would be one agency among many that would offer input and advice in shaping the development of the Internet.
“It is not my intention to take over the governance of the Internet,” Toure said. “There is no one single issue that can be dealt with by one organization alone.”
In September, ICANN moved closer to independence when the U.S. Department of Commerce indicated that the agency would have greater autonomy in its new oversight agreement. The U.S. Department of Commerce renewed its agreement with the Marina Del Rey, Calif.-based agency for up to three more years.
Brazil, Iran and Cuba, as well as other developing nations, have criticized the idea of a U.S.-controlled Internet, calling ICANN a proxy for American policy online. But Toure said he would do his best to create a forum for international cooperation for Internet policy. He also rejected an idea put forth by some dissatisfied countries of creating a parallel online infrastructure that could lead to multiple, incompatible Internets.
“We have to avoid a cyberwar between governments,” Toure said.
To avoid a cyberwar, Toure said that regulation should be as light as possible and adapt to local conditions.
In the meantime, one source of tension persists with the resurrection of a .XXX sTLD registry nearly eight months after ICANN’s board ruled against ICM Registry’s plan to create an adult-specific TLD.
When .XXX was shelved eight months earlier, many ICANN critics in the international community charged that the U.S. had exerted undue influence over the agency.

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