MetArt Sues MindGeek for Infringement

MetArt Sues MindGeek for Infringement

MIAMI — MetArt this week filed a lawsuit against adult entertainment conglomerate MindGeek and its newly launched PornHubPremium.com property, claiming copyright and trademark infringement after it allegedly found 100 of its copyrighted videos on the adult tube site.

MetArt, in the suit filed at Miami federal court, said that the site, which launched on Aug. 6, displayed its films over 523 separate URLs.

The suit seeks upwards of $15 million in damages plus attorneys fees as well as a transfer of the PornHubPremium domain name, among other forms of relief.

The complaint also names MindGeek execs Feras Antoon and Ouissam Yousef as defendants.

PornHubPremium is a membership site that charges $9.99 a month for premium high-def content.

“Defendants approached plaintiffs in the spring of 2015 seeking permission to display plaintiffs’ works on PornHubPremium.com. Plaintiffs refused to grant such permission,” the suit said.

Later, “defendants displayed plaintiffs’ copyrighted works in the PornHubPremium library, the same videos plaintiffs demanded to be removed from PornHub.com and the same videos that  defendants confirmed would be removed from PornHub.com.”

The suit is the latest action by MetArt. The company has filed numerous other infringement claims, including those against the operators of XVideos.com, Sex.com, AdultPornVideoxx.com, JoJoBaa.net, Motherless.com, KPorno.com, Pornias.com, LikePorno.com, SpankBang.com, Porn69.biz, Porn69.org, PornHub88.com, Sex88.org, PornoWow.com, Tubenn.com, Wixvi.so, Wixvi.com, HDPorn1080.com, HDPorn1080.net, SexTVx.com, SexSeeVideo.net and PornVideoXO.com.

MetArt infringement suits have been filed at federal courts in Miami, Phoenix, Seattle, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Its membership websites include MetArt. com, SexArt.com, Errotica-Archives.com, EroticBeauty.com, TheLifeErotic.com, RylskyArt.com, MichealNinn.com, ALSScan.com, VivThomas.com, EternalDesire.com, Stunning18.com, HollyRandall.com, Domai.com, GoddessNudes.com, MagikSex.com and BBFilms.com.

MindGeek’s sites also include YouPorn.com, Tube8.com, XTube.com, ExtremeTube.com, RedTube.com, SpankWire.com, KeezMovies.com, YouPornGay.com, PornMD.com, Brazzers.com, Digital Playground.com Twistys.com, RealityKings.com, SexTube.com, Beeg.com, Mofos.com, MyDirtyHobby.com and GayTube.com, among others.

View lawsuit

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

Missouri Republican Behind FOSTA-SESTA Renews Attack on OnlyFans

Rep. Ann Wagner, the Missouri Republican legislator who was the original architect of FOSTA-SESTA, has renewed her call for federal action against OnlyFans.

Idaho Legislature Passes Republican Age Verification Bill With Full Democratic Support

The Idaho legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Pre-Nom Period for 2024 XBIZ Creator Awards Ends Monday

The deadline for pre-nomination entries for the 2024 XBIZ Creator Awards is Monday, March 18 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Partners With Anti-Porn Lobby NCOSE

Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a press statement last week prominently highlighting her partnership with religiously-inspired anti-porn lobby NCOSE, an organization that seeks to criminalize all sex work and eradicate adult content, and that has an extensive, well-documented history of championing state censorship and opposing LGBTQ+ rights.

Age Verification Trade Group Weighs In on UK Consultation

The Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA) filed earlier this month its response to U.K. media regulator Ofcom's consultation soliciting feedback on the regulation of adult websites under Part 5 of the Online Safety Act.

WIPO Rules in Favor of Clips4Sale, Orders Transfer of Infringing Website

A World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) panel has issued a decision ruling against a Russia-based website operator accused of infringing on intellectual property belonging to clip site Clips4Sale.

Indiana Governor Signs Controversial Age Verification Bill Into Law

Indiana’s Republican governor, Eric Holcomb, has signed into law the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

India Censors 18 Social Media Platforms as 'Obscene'

The conservative Hindu nationalist government of Narendra Modhi has blocked 18 social media platforms in India, claiming they “promoted obscenity and vulgarity under the guise of ‘creative expression.’”

ECP Marks Anniversary of Aylo Acquisition With Emphasis on Trust, Safety

Aylo and Ethical Capital Partners released statements on Thursday commemorating the first anniversary of ECP's acquisition of technology and media company Aylo, owner of a large portfolio of adult online entertainment properties.

Pornhub Blocks Access in Texas Over Age Verification

Aylo has blocked access to Pornhub in Texas as of Thursday morning, following the decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upholding the state’s controversial age verification law.

Show More