Piracy Lawsuits Are a Waste of Money, ABA Says

NEW YORK — Suing individuals who poach content online doesn't yield significant financial returns and causes public relations problems, according to the American Bar Association.

The lawyers organization, instead, recommends the content industry spend its time educating the public on the negative impact of stealing content, like damage to the U.S. economy.

The ABA's intellectual property unit, in a 113-page white paper released this week, also said that it "does not believe that legislative action directly targeting consumers would prove effective in reducing piracy or counterfeiting at this time."

"Alternatively, a well-constructed and continuous public outreach campaign to educate the public about piracy and counterfeiting, the negative impacts these activities have on the U.S. economy and ways consumers can be proactive in trying to stop such conduct may have a longer lasting positive impact," the ABA said.

Pirated adult content is prevalent on the Internet. In fact, some adult entertainment studios’ entire catalogs are available online illegally.

Peer-to-peer networks and file-hosting sites often utilize BitTorrent — a popular file sharing protocol for transmitting large media files — to enable users to download unlicensed copyrighted material.

But some adult entertainment studios have fought back against online piracy with litigation, while some groups of attorneys have found a cottage industry lining up defendants who have been alleged to poach porn off the Internet.

Noting that it supports extending certain civil remedies to redress online piracy undertaken by foreign-based websites, the ABA in its paper said it recommends a “follow the money” approach based around extending injunctive relief and monetary damages.

The ABA's white paper encourages Congress to draft new antipiracy legislation like the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) bills and promote voluntary agreements between stakeholders.

The ABA's call for legislation also includes ways to cut off advertising and to seize funds through payment processors.

See ABA paper on piracy

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 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

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More