Craigslist Sues Maker of Auto-Posting Software in Federal Court

SAN FRANCISCO — Online classifieds provider Craigslist is suing a New York man and 25 unnamed parties, claiming they made and sold auto-posting software that violates copyright and is both fraudulent and illegal.

In the claim filed at U.S. District Court in San Francisco Nov. 5, the San Francisco company seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction against Zheng Peng and his company, PostingExpert.org.

The lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages to be awarded via jury trial and the return of all profits obtained by Peng and the unnamed individuals.

The auto-posting software “undermines Craigslist’s systems, organization and operation,” according to the lawsuit. It enables users to repetitiously post ads across the website’s many categories and geographical areas, and in the process the software circumvents “craigslist security measures,” the lawsuit stated.

Craigslist’s attorneys, Brian Hennessy and Elizabeth L. McDougall of Perkins Coie LLP, ground the charges against Peng in both federal and state laws regulating businesses. They run from copyright infringement and violation of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act to breach of contact, violation of California penal code, fraud and intentional interference with contractual relations.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 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

AV Bulletin: Midyear Roundup

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, more state age verification laws have been enacted around the United States, as well as proposed at the federal level and in other countries. Meanwhile, lawsuits resulting from AV laws have begun to play out in the courts. This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Judge Dismisses Last NCOSE-Backed Suit Over Kansas AV Law

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that adult site SuperPorn violated Kansas’ age verification law, citing lack of jurisdiction after similarly dismissing two related cases earlier this year.

Federal AV Proposal Scores Minor Win in House but Remains in Doubt

A newly announced bipartisan agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce may soon bring a proposed federal age verification law before the full House, but the measure continues to face an uphill battle.

Arizona Governor Vetoes 'Protect Act' With New Consent Provisions

Arizona Governor Kate Hobbs on Friday vetoed HB 2133, the “Protect Act,” which would have imposed new requirements for adult content uploaded online.

Brazil Begins Monitoring 18 Adult Sites for AV Compliance

Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) is now monitoring 18 high-traffic adult websites for compliance with the country’s Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents (Digital ECA), which requires such sites to age-verify users located in Brazil.

Ofcom Fines First Time Videos $100,000 for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Thursday imposed a fine of 80,000 pounds (more than $100,000) against First Time Videos, which operates FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, for failing to implement age checks required for compliance with the Online Safety Act.

EU Court: France Can Require Foreign Sites to Implement AV

The European Union’s Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that France may require pornographic websites based in other EU states to implement age verification in accordance with French law, as long as France follows EU electronic commerce rules.

Lawsuit Alleging Meta Pirated VMG Content Will Move Forward

A U.S. district court on Thursday rejected Facebook parent company Meta’s motion to dismiss a suit by Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings, which accuses Meta of pirating VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Anti-Porn Senator Introduces Federal Age Verification Bill

U.S. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana, who last month urged the Department of Justice to ramp up obscenity prosecutions, on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make age verification by adult websites federal law.

FSC: W.V. Age Verification Law Takes Effect June 12

The Free Speech Coalition has issued a reminder notice that West Virginia's age verification law takes effect on June 12, 2026.

Show More