Helmy and Sperlein join six incumbent board members, including FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas, attorney Reed Lee, AVN staff writer Mark Kernes, Topco Marketing Director Lynn Swanson, NakedSword President Tim Valenti and veteran industry businesswoman Mara Epstein.
Helmy is president of Adnet Media, which publishes adult industry trade publications XBIZ World and XBIZ Premiere magazines and operates XBIZ.com. XBIZ also hosts two industry trade shows, XBIZ Summer Forum held annually in Las Vegas and the annual XBIZ Conference held in Los Angeles.
One of the early pioneers of the online adult industry, Helmy said he’s looking forward to contributing to the FSC's focus, relevance and appeal as it relates to the online adult industry.
Helmy, who has spent more than 14 years in the industry, plans to offer “guidance and direction on online/digital initiatives to the FSC.”
“Having been a long-time supporter of the FSC, I look forward to actively contributing to its immediate as well as long-term goals,” he said.
Sperlein serves as Titan Media’s in-house counsel, where he concentrates on anti-piracy litigation for the gay adult entertainment studio. Sperlein has testified before the California legislature on behalf of the adult entertainment industry on issues such as the adult business tax and mandatory condom use in adult film production.
“The most obvious thing I bring to the FSC Board is my expertise in dealing with piracy of adult content,” Sperlein said in his candidate’s statement “While serving as general counsel for Titan Media, I have drastically reduced infringement of Titan content, especially online. As a board member, I will be able to directly advise the FSC on the services I believe would most directly assist FSC members in battling piracy.”
FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said that the old and new board members have a great deal of challenges in store for the new year.
“I am confident that with our 2009 board we have the right people in place to not only face those challenges but also to take advantages of any opportunities that may help our members and the adult entertainment industry as a whole,” Duke said.
Board members were chosen by the FSC membership through an online and mail-in voting process. Those elected serve for two years on the board, barring any unforeseen circumstance that prevents them from serving a full term.
The FSC is now it its 18th year of operation.
