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Porn producer files copyright suit against sex-based YouTube imitation

By Stevie Smith Dec 12, 2007, 11:13 GMT

When it comes to video-sharing Web sites and lawsuits related to copyright infringement, Google-owned YouTube is generally never too far from the centre of any resulting controversy. However, porn production company Vivid Entertainment and YouTube sound-a-like ‘PornoTube’ have this week proven that there’s an exception to every rule. Porn producer Vivid Entertainment launches copyright lawsuit against video-sharing site PornoTube. Credit: Vivid.

Porn producer Vivid Entertainment launches copyright lawsuit against video-sharing site PornoTube. Credit: Vivid.More specifically, Vivid Entertainment has filed its lawsuit against PornoTube (and its Charlotte-based parent company Data Conversions Inc.) on the grounds that it is creating profit be conveniently turning a blind eye to the practice of users posting copyrighted pornographic clips to the site. "We’ve decided to take a stand and say ‘no more,’" outlined Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch in an LA Times report. "We will go after all the free sites." The report also goes on to say that Vivid’s suit is notable for being the first of its kind related to creators in the pornographic movie industry.In the instances when YouTube has been hit with similar copyright infringement lawsuits from leading media producers (such as BSkyB and Viacom), the video-sharing Web site has often struck deals that allow it to continue to show copyrighted clips in return for a split of the advertising revenue they generate while playing. In other cases, YouTube is often forced to remove any and all copyright protected clips whenever their owners locate them and issue YouTube with a complaint.. However, that’s not something that Hirsch says he’s interested in pursuing, and neither is exercising a careful vigilance over PornoTube to ensure that no further Vivid Entertainment content is posted. In a move to curb users illegally posting protected clips, YouTube is in the process of incorporating a ‘fingerprint’ copy protection system that will block such activities
Vivid Entertainment’s suit is is seeking damages of $150,000 USD and claims that various Vivid porn titles have been pilfered for clips, which have then been posted via PornoTube. Some of those titles include ‘Night Nurses,’ ‘Where the Boys Aren’t 7,’ and also private content connected to Kim Kardashian.Data Conversions Inc. has yet to offer an official comment on the lawsuit.