TEMPE, Ariz. — The Phoenix Forum’s “Real vs. Hype” seminar on Friday offered a refreshing session on the state of the industry.
The seminar, wedged on the second day of the Tempe, Ariz., show, offered opinion on a wide spectrum of issues from the online adult industry’s top execs, including Alec Helmy of XBIZ, Ron Cadwell of CC Bill, Tony Morgan of National Net, Stephen Sirard of Next Door Entertainment and Allison Vivas of Pink Visual.
Topics discussed were mobile porn, porn in games, tablets, apps for porn and customer loyalty in porn. So were the topics of micro payments, virtual worlds, Indian and Asian markets, the cloud, tube sites, .XXX and the “Scrub Dial,” coined by Cadwell and discussed by the panel.
With each topic, panelists showed their true feelings, by holding “hype” or “real” placards.
Mobile porn, which was discussed widely at most of the other Phoenix Forum seminars that focused on technology and monetization, again received a lion’s share of dialogue, particularly when it comes to the iPad.
Helmy, XBIZ’s president, said that the mobile business has matured to the point where “this year, we introduced a mobile news section because there’s so much business in the segment.”
“There is money being made based just on the number of news releases we get,” he said.
Friday offered a full slate of numerous seminars, besides “Real vs. Hype” including a legal session that featured ASACP CEO Joan Irvine moderating a panel that included attorneys Greg Piccionelli, Beth Hutchins, Corey Silverstein, Matt Collins and JD Obenberger.
The attorneys spoke mostly on how to protect your business by possessing bulletproof 2257 records, obtaining registered copyrights trademarks and making sure your business is structured properly.
“We’ve had this epidemic in the porn business called the handshake deal,” Silverstein said. “Yes, this is the porn business. But it is still a business. You must fundamentally have a formal agreement with your business partners.
“Right from the start have something that says he’s gotta do this or she’s gotta do that,” he said.
Piccionelli stressed that appropriate agreements, with terms attached are key to deals between companies.
“Everything that touches your company, should have a paper component or an online contract component,” he said. “They can be helpful to defend you from possible criminal prosecution.”
One topic that came up was the latest scandal to hit the porn biz — Pornwikileaks.com — which reportedly has cross-referenced thousands of porn names attached to legal names, along with addresses, in its database.
Obenberger said there could be some consequence with civil liability should addresses or social security numbers be employed.
“The fact that the names have somehow become public and now are acting to intimidate and embarrass may have an effect [even though he or she is a porn star],” he said.
In another Friday seminar, Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Diane Duke spearheaded a legal session that included panelists Peter Phinney of Porn Guardian, Trieu Hoang of AbbyWinters, Paolo C of Teen Revenue and lawyers Gil Sperlein and John Steele.
Other panels included one that discussed the best ways to compete for customers, using metrics and new technologies, and another that looked at changes in financial markets and how processing decisions and tax requirements can impact your business, as well as billing choices.
The morning and afternoon had several demos, including one presented by AdultCentro called “Increase Revenues in 10 Minutes.” $tanDaMan discussed how companies can build internal CC Bill cross-sales sites.
Another demo by Reporo’s Kieran O’Keffe and Andrew Turner showed how you can make money from mobile traffic and mobile porn.
After the annual Sponsor Meet Market, many at The Phoenix Forum were gearing to party into the night, a particularly warm one here in Tempe.
On tap is the “Cock and Tail Party,” put on by CCBill and Buddy Profits, which also is hosting a “Recovery Breakfast” later in the night.
Also in the mix are Smashbucks’ “Late-Night Poker Lounge” and City Sex Cash’s “Late-Night Hospitality Suite.”