LONDON — Playboy TV and Demand Adult can continue to provide Internet porn to U.K. users after winning an appeal to British regulator Ofcom.
The Authority for Television on Demand (ATVOD) said the decision was based on it not receiving relevant information regarding Playboy TV UK/Benelux Ltd. being run by Playboy Plus Entertainment in Canada.
The ruling means the companies can continue to provide hardcore Internet porn to U.K. consumers beyond the reach of British regulation.
Earlier this year, Playboy TV was fined £100,000 (about $160,000) by Ofcom for not having sufficient age-verification controls on its Demand Adult and Playboy TV websites.
"This is a complex area and the appeal system is a vital part of the process, giving service providers, in particular, greater clarity over issues such as where regulatory responsibility lies when two or more parties are involved,” ATVOD CEO Pete Johnson said.
"In this case, it is unfortunate that ATVOD was not provided with all relevant information at the appropriate time — doing so ensures that unnecessary regulatory costs are avoided."
The fines levied by ATVOD in January however, must still be paid considering that the U.K. company was the provider of the services at the time of the breach.
Both Playboy TV UK/Benelux Ltd and Playboy Plus Entertainment are part of the Manwin Holding SARL group of companies.
