Walters Law Group
U.S. to Seek Public Comment Over DMCA's Notice-and-Takedown Procedures
The U.S. Copyright Office has decided to undertake a comprehensive review of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's safe harbor provisions and accompanying notice-and-takedown procedures.
WIA Profile: Kimberly A. Harchuck
Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
Nude Activists Settle Suit Against City of San Francisco
The City of San Francisco and two of its most famous nude activists, Gypsy Taub and George Davis, formally settled a suit stemming from the San Francisco Police Department’s denial of a parade permit for a “nude-in” parade.
Alabama Senate Rejects 40% Porn Tax
Alabama’s porn tax proposal failed to pass the state Senate last week.
40% Porn Tax Proposal Moves Forward in Ala.
Alabama is one step closer to mandating a 40 percent state excise tax on pornography — even online content.
Goddess Jude Seeks Contributions to Help Legal Fight
Florida dominatrix Goddess Jude has made a plea for financial contributions to help fight off a lawsuit by a former BDSM client who says she drained his bank account and credit cards of more than $500,000 and took over ownership of his townhouse during their four-year sadomasochistic relationship.
Law of Sex: ‘The War on Porn’ Is Rebranded
On October 8, 2014, ThinkProgress.com declared the end to the War on Porn. The censors had lost and erotic media would live on. One sign that the war had been lost was the fact that annual contributions to the well-known anti-erotica group, Morality in Media, had dwindled from over $1 million in 2001 to just over $20,000 in 2005.
Georgia Contemplates ‘Sin Tax’ on Strip Clubs
A plan to tax Georgia strip clubs to help fund a program for victims of sex trafficking won approval from a state Senate committee yesterday and moves forward in the Legislature.
Law of Sex: Fighting Private Censorship
Government censorship in the Internet age has been a consistent focal point for free speech advocates. Recent examples of censorship by the American government can be egregious, including the curtailment of First Amendment rights through mass surveillance, over-regulation of disfavored speech, criminal prosecution, and outright bans on books, movies, and websites.
Best Practices for the Live Webcam Space
As the live webcam business continues to surge in popularity, more attention will be focused on operators and performers by law enforcement and other government agencies.
Anti-Porn Sheriff Faces Claim in Cyber-Bullying Arrest
Adult entertainment industry attorney Lawrence Walters and co-counsel take on the infamous Sheriff Grady Judd in Polk County, Fla., in a claim involving a false cyber-bullying arrest.
Walters Law Group to Conduct Camming, Dating Legal Workshop at XBIZ Summit
The law firm of Walters Law Group, through its founder, Lawrence G. Walters, and of counsel, Corey Silverstein, will present an exclusive legal workshop focused on the latest issues facing live webcam and online dating operators at the upcoming XBIZ Summit in Miami.
FTC Complaint Signals Caution for Dating Sites
For the online adult industry, news of the FTC's charges against Jerk.com could put a cautionary spin on practices made by certain sectors, particularly the dating space.
Walters: Florida CP Bill Goes Too Far
Florida's Legislature on Thursday will decide whether to change its child porn laws to cover virtual child porn, a move that could potentially impact "teen" adult entertainment sites that have young-looking adults who appear to be adults.
Is It Legal to Shoot Porn in Your State?
This is the first of a series of articles comparing and contrasting the legal, political, and economic landscapes in California, Nevada, and Florida as they relate to adult film production.
Quick2257 Now Available for Android Devices
Industry attorney Lawrence Walters has now released Quick2257 for Android devices.
Keeping Your 2257 Records Clean
Model Release? Check! Performer ID’s? Check! 2257 form? Check! Throw them all into a file or load them into a database and your legal tail is covered, right? Unfortunately, XXX law is never that simple, particularly when discussing compliance with the federal regulations applied to highly-regulated, sexually-explicit content.
Fla. Store Owner Pleads Not Guilty to Obscenity Charges
Minakashiben Patel, the store owner who was arrested this month on obscenity charges in Florida, has pleaded not guilty to obscenity charges.
Killing the Messenger: The Campaign Against Online Escort Advertising Sites
The recent guilty plea by Escorts.com has ignited interest in the legal issues surrounding the operation of an online escort site. In this two-part blog post, the author will examine real-world examples of the government’s recent resurgence in its crusade against escort advertising directories, followed by an overview of pertinent legal concerns applicable to this business model.
Teen, Hentai Sites Beware
A recent federal appeals decision could greatly increase the liability associated with publishing media depicting youthful looking individuals. Here’s the story: In 2009 Jack Furman Dean Jr. was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for violating 18 U.S.C. § 1466A(a)(2), which prohibits certain types of child pornography. U.S. vs. Dean, 635 F.3d 1200 (11th Cir. 2011). After the denial of his request for a new trial, Dean appealed to the 11th Circuit, challenging the constitutionality of § 1466A(a)(2) on 1st Amendment grounds. The statute at issue prohibits, among other things, the distribution, receipt or possession of: