French Court to Decide Whether Sex Toys Are Porn

PARIS — A French court will decide if a sex toy shop operator violated porn laws by selling his products within 200 yards of a school.

Two Christian groups — the National Confederation of Catholic Family Associations (CNAFC) and the CLER Love and Family Association filed complaints against the shop manager Nicolas Busnel, charging that his store was too close to a school.

Busnel went on trial today and claimed that his merchandise, that includes dildos and vibrators, are erotic but not porn.

"There are as many definitions of pornography as there are people," said his lawyer, Richard Malka.

Busnel maintained that limiting sex toy shops to areas outside of 200 yards of educational institutions would mean the only places they could be sold would be "cemeteries, parks and on train tracks."

But a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Henri de Beauregard said there was little doubt the shop’s products were porn.

"You can say that a sex shop is a 'love shop,' that a dildo is a 'sex toy'... but these are just words," he said. "The simple truth is that we have here a sex shop that sells pornography."

If convicted, Busnel faces two years in prison and a $40,000 fine.

Malka made a motion for the case to be dismissed as unconstitutional, but was rejected by the court.

Further testimony from witnesses including Busnel and a sexologist, was to be heard later by the court.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

LELO Launches 'Masturbitter' Craft Beer to Promote Male Sex Talk

LELO has partnered with Great Beyond Brewing Company to launch Masturbitter, a craft beer, to encourage men to discuss sex.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

Xgen Now Shipping ZOLO's 'Stroke Off' Collection

Xgen Products is now shipping the Stroke Off collection of 11 handheld strokers and four masturbators modeled after lifelike body parts.

Nobü Unveils 'Gyrä' Vibrating Grinding Pad

Nobü has introduced the new Gyrä vibrating grinding pad.

Orion Introduces New 3-Motor Vibrator From 'Sweet Smile' Line

Orion Wholesale has debuted the new three-motor RC G- & P-Spot Vibrator from its Sweet Smile line.

C1R Debuts 'Vers' Suction Dildo, Butt Plug

C1R has introduced its new Vers liquid silicone suction dildo and butt plug.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

Blush Erotica, The Kinky Candle Company Partner for Branded Candle

Blush Erotica has partnered with The Kinky Candle Company for an official branded candle.

Show More