FSC Meeting Focuses on .XXX, 2257

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — The Free Speech Coalition held its general membership meeting Thursday at the Marriott Warner Center in Woodland Hills, Calif. FSC staff and attorneys briefed the gathering of adult industry professionals on 2257 issues and .XXX, among other issues facing the industry.

Attorney and FSC board member Reed Lee briefed the membership on the recent 11th Circuit decision in U.S. vs. Williams, which struck down the pandering provision of the Protect Act.

Although that case involved a man convicted of child pornography possession, Lee explained that the case was important to the adult industry for two reasons, namely that it directly followed the Supreme Court ruling in Ashcroft vs. FSC, which held that only material made with actual minors would be unprotected under the constitution. Second, Lee said that he believed the analysis used by the legal panel in the Williams case might be a harbinger of positive outcomes in the current 2257 litigation.

Tom Hymes, communications director for the FSC spoke generally about his trip to the ICANN meeting in New Zealand and his hope that the FSC’s presence signaled to some at ICANN that .XXX did not have full industry support. Hymes also urged the crowd to comment about .XXX on the ICANN website, which recently re-opened a forum on the contested top-level domain.

Stephen Rohde, an attorney on the FSC Utah litigation team spoke at length on the court battle to block the Utah Child Protection Registry law. Rohde has high hopes that the FSC will win a preliminary injunction in the case. While he discussed possible 1st Amendment arguments against the Utah version of Can-Spam, Rohde conceded that perhaps the best avenues for success lay with arguments grounded in the preemption doctrine (meaning that the federal government, not the states, had sole power in this area) and the dormant commerce clause — a doctrine that prohibits states from negatively impacting interstate commerce.

Filling in for attorney and FSC Board Chairman Jeffrey Douglas, who could not make it, were Lee and FSC Executive Director Michelle Freridge. Both spoke on HR 4472, a bill that would dramatically impact the current 2257 litigation. While Lee pointed out that mainstream Hollywood producers were aware of the bill via the Motion Picture Association of America, he stressed that the real burden in both litigation and lobbying would be shouldered by the adult community.

The new bill would resurrect secondary producer liability and flies in the face of a body of favorable court decisions, according to Lee. However, as to companies grappling with 2257 concerns, Lee stressed the importance of hiring counsel for advice, rather than relying exclusively on FSC opinions.

Copyright © 2025 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

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos Joins ProDx Health Advisory Board

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos has joined the Advisory Board of ProDx Health.

Aylo Fined $5 Million as FTC, Utah Settle Safety Practices Complaint

The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah on Wednesday settled a complaint against Aylo, requiring the company to pay a $5 million penalty and implement measures to prevent illegal content from appearing on its sites.

New AI Companion Platform 'Pornstar.love' Launches

Pornstar.love, a new AI companion platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support, Stripchat to Host 'Navigating Thoughts of Suicide' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Stripchat are hosting a free online support group to help performers deal with suicidal ideation.

Plaiir Names Cade Maddox as Lead of Creator Relations

Networking platform Plaiir has appointed Cade Maddox as its new lead of creator relations.

Go.cam Launches 'One-Line Integration' Verification Solution

Go.cam has introduced a one-line code integration for age verification.

XBIZ Amsterdam to Debut 'Behind the Lens' Screening Series

XBIZ is pleased to announce the debut of “Behind the Lens,” a new screening series presenting discussions with noted directors, taking place at the upcoming annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam.

'White Rabbit' Party Headed for XBIZ Amsterdam

XBIZ is pleased to announce the White Rabbit Party, an XBIZ Amsterdam special event set to take place Wednesday, Sept. 3.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Speaker Lineup Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full speaker lineup for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, the latest edition of Europe’s biggest adult industry conference, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel in Amsterdam.

Sara Jay, Dan Leal to Sponsor XBIZ Amsterdam Kick-Off Event

Sara Jay’s Wyde Syde Productions and Porno Dan Leal’s Market64 will co-sponsor the Bottoms Up Day Drinking kick-off event for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 at Excalibur Café on Sept. 2, from 2-4 p.m. (CET).

Show More