LOS ANGELES — Stunner Media, Grooby and Yanks.com have issued a joint statement announcing a zero-tolerance policy against DMCA removal companies that file unfounded claims on their intellectual property.
The full statement follows:
In an effort to protect the rights of content creators and uphold the integrity of the adult industry, leading companies Stunner Media, Grooby, and Yanks.com jointly announce their decision to implement a zero-tolerance policy against DMCA removal companies that file unfounded claims on their intellectual property. This move comes as a response to the recurring issue of unjustified DMCA notifications, which have had negative repercussions on their businesses and industry reputation.
The three companies, renowned for their contributions to the adult industry, acknowledge the importance of legitimate DMCA removal companies that diligently assist content creators in safeguarding their intellectual property. However, they have become increasingly concerned with the actions of certain DMCA removal companies that repeatedly file unjustified claims against content owned by Stunner Media, Grooby and Yanks.com.
As per the new policy, each time the aforementioned companies receive a DMCA notification for content they own that is issued by a DMCA removal company, a standard billing of $100 per item will be imposed on the notifying party. This fee is based on the violation of 17 U.S.C. § 512(f) and is intended to hold DMCA removal companies accountable for their actions.
Furthermore, if the DMCA removal company fails to pay the imposed fee within 14 days of receipt, Stunner Media, Grooby and Yanks.com reserve the right to take additional actions to ensure the prevention of future unwarranted DMCA claims. These potential actions include pursuing legal claims for damages, court costs, and attorneys fees based on abuse of the DMCA, exposing the infringing company's details on webmaster boards and social media, contacting the models represented by the DMCA company to inform them of potential legal consequences, reporting the company to Google for punitive actions, and making public statements warning potential clients about the poor business practices of the infringing company.
Kenny from Stunner Media, Steven from Grooby, and Todd & Billie from Yanks.com assert that they have previously raised complaints with DMCA removal companies, seeking resolution, but these efforts have been met with unfulfilled promises. The recurrent issuance of unfounded DMCA claims has caused harm not only to their respective companies but to the adult industry at large. As responsible stakeholders in the adult content community, they emphasize the necessity for reliable and conscientious DMCA removal companies that operate with integrity.
To read the full open letter to DMCA companies, click here.
For additional information, contact Steven Grooby directly at admin@grooby.com.