Adult Internet Law

Getting into adult entertainment can be fun, lucrative, and an awesome way to express yourself. Sadly, there are more than a few pitfalls to avoid and I’m not just talking about getting herpes.

One of the biggest potential problems an aspiring pornstar may have to deal with is navigating complex legal issues. Regulatory policy that can lead to a mess of problems, not limited to escorts. Other sex workers, especially porn performers and producers, are all too commonly targeted by the law.

So, if you are looking to get into the skin business in front of the camera, and definitely, if you are on the production end, you'll have to get some legal advice first.

Here Is Why You Should Care About Getting Legal Aid

To bring it up again, the regulators have no problem going after pornographers with all sorts of legal fuckery. And they can do it in all sorts of ways depending on where you live.

While not banned or tightly regulated outright, when it comes to specifics, understanding porn in the UK is difficult. Part of the reason for this is because the laws vary by region. For instance, in England and Wales, explicit movies can be sold, but those who do it need a special license.

In general, just about any kind of smut depicting adults can be sold throughout the country though there have been attempts to prosecute non-porn people involved in ‘obscene’ acts. The most recent case didn’t work, but the country’s obscenity laws were invoked.

Along with that, there have been attempts to ban certain forms of porn considered too 'extreme.'

In other parts of the Commonwealth, like Australia, it is perfectly legal to have porn. You just can't sell, exhibit or rent it out in most states. Throughout Europe proper, the laws vary quite a lot from Hungary, which is pretty open compared to Ukraine, where it’s entirely banned.

Then there are countries like Russia where you can watch porn but making it is verboten. Of course, anyone who likes Euro porn knows there is plenty of Russian smut out there. So, it would appear that enforcement isn’t consistent.

And then there is the United States, which has a weird-ass relationship with sex, porn, and free speech. By constitutional law, free speech – and artistic expression by extension – is effectively sacrosanct. That has not stopped attempts at censorship by enacting obscenity laws.

Fortunately, the courts rule that those mandates are unenforceable vague and unconstitutional, but that hasn't stopped the feminists and fundies from going after the industry. For example, one of the most successful attacks on the business came in the form of Measure B in California that mandated condom use.

Of course, this hasn't stopped studios from defying that law, but they do expose themselves to massive risk.

Moral of the story: if you're getting into porn, seek out legal assistance.

This Is The Adult Internet Law Mission

Getting legal advice, in general, isn’t too hard to get no matter where you live. As someone, who has traveled and got tail worldwide from major metropolises to tiny towns, it doesn’t take too much to find an attorney.

However, getting legal advice from an expert when it comes to being in adult entertainment can be a pain. Not only that, seeing the regulatory environment the skin business operates in varies by country and region depending on where you live.

For those reasons, you are going to have to be sure that you get the best advice from someone in your area and who is a specialist. Based in Chicago, Adult Internet Law charges flat rates to answer whatever questions you have while also handling whatever issues you might be dealing with.

They also allow you to network with other members of the adult industry, which is pretty cool seeing that making it in entertainment is all about who you know. And finally, they want to make you feel comfortable legally working in the business without having the feeling that AIL partners are 'acting like lawyers.'

Not only that, but they also specialize in assisting newcomers to the industry. In other words, while working with AIL, you'll be in a judgment-free zone no matter what kind of kinky shit you like to shoot.

Signup For Fresh Updates On The Industry

Just like the mainline porn industry, the legal climate that the industry operates in is a constant state of flux. Even if you do get connected with the legal team at Adult Internet Law, you're still going to want to stay informed.

Unfortunately, that can be more than difficult given the constant shifts in varying jurisdictions and the technical expertise involved in understanding legal technicalities.

Fortunately, this website provides a newsletter, which I think they are still keeping up with. To get access, all you have to do is click on the link accessible from any page except the Home page. Then enter in your email, and you're good to go.

I Think They Provide Other Services

According to the website, they also do speaking engagements, but that page, like most of the rest of the site, is blank right now. Maybe you can book the lawyers at AIL to be keynote speakers at your next porn symposium; then again, perhaps not. I guess you'll have to contact them to find out.

Another service they provide – or at least I think they do – is tax assistance. Considering how complex the tax code can be depending on the country you are in, not to mention the stigma around adult entertainment, this is great news. However, this is another service on a page that is now blank, so good luck if AIL still provides this service.

There Are Several Issues I Have Noticed

If it isn't already clear, I've got some issues with this website. Now, normally, I wouldn't focus on that so much considering this site is all about their services. However, when you are offering in-person services like legal advice, you should be very clear about what it is you are offering.

With respect to this website, nearly all of the pages are simply adverts for their newsletter. That's unfortunate, considering that it looks like they used to offer plenty of vital information. Besides what I've already mentioned, there were pages detailing basic legal definitions relevant to porn, examples of sites they like, and interviews with industry pros.

All of this could have been great, especially for those who are cutting their teeth in porn, but now that’s all gone.

For fuck's sake, even the FAQ section is blank, and there is no formal contact page to speak of. How do these people expect to get clients using this domain when they provide a single phone number at the bottom of a text fest on the homepage?

On that note, the one page where they do provide information is far too dense for my liking. I understand this is a platform run by lawyers, but it doesn't hurt to hire a web designer to make things digestible for potential clients who aren't legal experts.

But Surprise (!) You Actually Can Get Ahold Of Them

As I said, this website is incredibly broken and needs a massive overhaul, and so getting in touch with them seems impossible. There is a phone number listed on the Home page, but that's about it, and given the reliability of email as opposed to a phone call, I think that's unacceptable.

However, after some digging, I found other ways to reach out to J.D. Obenberger and Associates. After googling around, I found that this company owns another website called XXXLaw.com. On this site, they list several ways to contact them, including a phone and even a fax.

You can also fire off an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or send a message via Skype to xxxlaw. That same name acts as a search term for Obenberger’s Facebook page. Lastly, you might be able to contact these guys through their Twitter @2257JD.

Too bad they could not have put this information on Adult Internet Law.

Here Are My Final Thoughts On This Firm

To be honest, J.D. Obenberger and Associates seems like a legitimate organization that offers fine services. Looking at their other sites and profiles help me confirm this, but I shouldn't have to scour the net to get this information.

Then there is the fact that this firm is based out of Chicago, which is not negative inherently. However, if you live in Nevada, California, New York, or especially outside the United States, you might want to find a firm closer to home.

For those reasons, I can say that it might be a good idea to check them out.

Reach out to them and let me know what happens. I might end adjusting this review for better, though I’m not overly optimistic.