AdultShop.com Settles U.S. Payment Dispute

SYDNEY — Bringing an end to the on-going credit card processing problems that have besieged Australian adult Internet retail company AdultShop.com, the company announced today that it had settled an outstanding legal claim against it that could have potentially cost more than $2.8 million in damages and brought the company before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The underlying lawsuit, brought by a California credit card payment processor in 2002, alleged that AdultShop.com owed the processor approximately $1.86 million in outstanding charges and $1 million in general damages.

The case was also scheduled to be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2005.

“The legal fees that would have been incurred by the company were expected to have been significant,” said KJ Heitman, chairman of AdultShop, in a statement release Tuesday. “On the advice of the company’s United States-based legal advisors, the directors agreed to what is considered to be a fair and reasonable settlement.”

The terms of the agreement call for AdultShop to pay the processor $1.5 million to settle all claims against it.

AdultShop also made legal headlines recently when it initiated a multimillion dollar lawsuit against two Australian businessmen who had sold the company their online erotica division.

AdultShop paid roughly $12 million to Dean Shannon and Steve Jones in exchange for the division, but the credit card processor’s looming litigation caused AdultShop stock to drastically drop in price. The company sued Shannon and Jones in October 2004 to recoup some of its loss.

AdultShop alleged that the two businessmen breached the Australian Trades Practices Act and had misrepresented the benefits of merchant accounts.

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

Ofcom Fines AVS Group $1.3 Million for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Wednesday imposed a penalty of one million pounds, or approximately $1.3 million, on AVS Group Ltd. after an investigation concluded that the company had failed to implement robust age checks on 18 adult websites.

Report: Aylo to Implement Age Verification in EU

Pornhub parent company Aylo plans to participate in the European Commission’s pilot program for its “white label” age verification app, according to a report by German tech news site Netzpolitik.

Missouri Lawmaker Attempts to Revive 'Health Warnings' for Adult Sites

A Missouri state representative has introduced a bill that would require adult sites to post notices warning users of alleged physical, mental, and social harms associated with pornography, despite a previous federal court ruling against such requirements.

New Age Verification Service 'BorderAge' Launches

French startup company Needemand has officially launched its subscription-based age verification solution, BorderAge.

Ruling: Italy's 'Porn Tax' Applies to All Content Creators

Italy’s tax revenue agency has ruled that the nation’s 25% “ethical tax” on income generated from adult content applies even to smaller independent online content creators.

Proposed New Hampshire AV Bill Appears to Violate Constitution

A bill in the New Hampshire state legislature, aimed at requiring adult sites to age-verify users in that state, contains a provision that seemingly contradicts the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution.

AEBN Publishes Report on Fetish Trends

AEBN has published a report on fetish categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Online Child Protection Hearing to Include Federal AV Bill

A House subcommittee will hold a hearing next week on a slate of bills aimed at protecting minors online, including the SCREEN Act, which would make site-based age verification of users seeking to access adult content federal law.

Industry Photographer, 'Payout' Founder Mike B Passes Away

Longtime industry photographer and publisher Michael Bartholomey, known widely as Mike B, passed away Saturday.

FSC Announces 2025 Board of Directors Election Nominees

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has announced the nominees for its 2025 Board of Directors election.

Show More