Vanessa Blue, Lexington Steele in Legal Battle Over Web Content

LOS ANGELES — A legal battle between two major adult stars over content streamed on the Internet has found its way to federal court, XBIZ has learned.

Both parties — Lexington Steele and Vanessa Blue — have filed federal lawsuits in recent months against each other over the ownership of numerous videos that first appeared under the Mercenary Pictures banner, where Steele acts as the company’s president and also is a performer.

Steele’s complaint claims that Blue, whose real name is Tanya Faulkner, appropriated copyrights illegally for various volumes of such Mercenary titles as “Black Reign,” “Superwhores,” “Ebony” and “Climax TV.”

Steele, whose real name is Clifton Britt Jr., claims that Blue was a salaried performer and, at time of employment, “never objected or asserted rights to the copyrighted registrations solely owned by Mercenary Pictures.” Blue also goes by the name of Domina X.

Steele alleges that Blue, along with her production company VBX, provided scenes from the videos he owns on VanessaBlue.com and earned membership fees over the video-on-demand clips.

His suit seeks compensatory, as well as punitive damages, along with injunctive relief.

Blue’s separate complaint alleges copyright infringement and breach of an implied contract, among other charges, against Steele, Mercenary and Canada-based HVL Cyberweb Solutions Inc., which allegedly entered into a web distribution deal with Mercenary through its Braincash division.

Blue, in the complaint, said that it was Steele who fraudulently filed for certificates of registration over the titles and that Steele’s company agreed to pay her 75 percent of the gross revenue generated from LexSteele.com.

That promise, Blue contends, was made if she relocated her residence from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, which she eventually did.

So far, Blue claims, Steele and his company made at least one payment but breached its contract starting in June 2006.

Blue, in her suit, asks for compensatory damages and enhanced damages over the alleged copyright infringement.

Both cases are wending their way through U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, with Blue’s case against Steele slated next year for jury trial on May 12.

Attorney Michael Fattorosi, who represents Blue, told XBIZ he could not comment on a case that is currently in the midst of litigation.

Attorney Robert Esensten, who represents Steele, did not respond for comment.

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

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

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

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

Skylar Snow Headlines 'Infidelity 4' From Sweet Sinner

Skylar Snow toplines "Infidelity 4," the latest release from Mile High Media studio brand Sweet Sinner.

Serenity Cox Stars in 'Enjoy It' From MILFY

Serenity Cox stars with Alberto Blanco in "Enjoy It," from Vixen Media Group studio imprint MILFY.

Melissa Stratton Stars in Finale of Wicked's 'So Extra'

Melissa Stratton and Robby Apples star in the final scene from Wicked Pictures' "So Extra."

BiPhoria Drops Jim Powers' 'Saying GoodBi'

BiPhoria has released director Jim Powers' "Saying GoodBi."

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

Jade Venus, Kasey Kei Star in 'Trans Rave' From GenderX

Jade Venus and Kasey Kei star in "Trans Rave" from GenderX, directed by Jim Powers.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

Show More