U.S. Adult Companies Win Australian Piracy Case

SYDNEY, Australia – Defendants in an Australian film piracy case pleaded guilty on Feb.3 to breaching copyrights owned by U.S. adult companies Wicked Pictures, CalVista and Adultshop.com.

Retail, online and mail-order businesses Kaosshop Pty Ltd., Platinum Interactive Pty Ltd. and their director, Theo Armenis, accepted liability for the infringements at the start of a hearing in Australia’s Federal Magistrates Court. They also accepted a series of permanent injunctions against selling, distributing or advertising the films in question.

Because the defendants pleaded guilty, the majority of the hearing was spent arguing over damages. The judge gave no indication of when he will make his decision regarding damages.

The victory sets an important precedent, according to Steven Vlottes, vice president of international sales and licensing at Wicked.

“The decision is going to make other people doing this sort of thing stop and think, ‘Maybe it’s not worth it,’” Vlottes told XBiz.

Vlottes said his company was losing at least 50 percent of its Australian business due to rampant, unchecked piracy.

“Piracy is a major problem in the Australian adult film industry and we are being flooded with pirated DVDs and videos,” said Graeme Dunne, executive officer of Australia’s Adult Industry Copyright Organization, the group that filed suit on behalf of Wicked and the other companies involved. “We estimate that they account for over 80 percent of the adult films sold in Australia.”

Piracy isn’t nearly as prevalent in the U.S., but some within the industry estimate that illegal copying is sapping as much as 30 percent of annual profits from larger studios such as Wicked and Vivid.

“Every time we put a finger in the dam, we spring another leak,” said Jay Grdina, president of Club Jenna and husband of Jenna Jameson.

Vlottes said that, while U.S copyright laws are much easier to enforce, the industry would benefit from having a domestic organization similar to AICO.

“It would be great if we had an organization we could go to and put these types of cases in their hands,” he said.

Because AICO is funded not by studios but by Australian distributors, it is the distributors who will win any damages the court awards.

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 Industry, Override Possible

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