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Newbies Click Here to Join our Free Newsletter NEW - Click here for our Tax Review Service You've decided to take the plunge into the adult Internet industry and are now wondering what you need to do to protect yourself. Below you will find a brief explanation of various types of adult businesses you might be pursuing from a legal perspective. Many of these topics are covered on our article pages. If you see a word that is highlighted, you can click on it to learn more about the subject. To simplify matters, we have put together "Legal Packages" that include all of the relevant legal items for each subject. Each package will be tailored to your particular situation. If you see something you are interested in, simply contact us. Please note that the topics covered below are only a few of the many options in the adult industry. If you are pursuing a business idea that is not listed below, feel free to contact us to discuss it. Newbie Legal Issues Will My Idea Work? Before you start spending time and money on your adult business, it may be wise to have an objective third party review your plan. Frustrated clients that have spent many months trying to develop their business often retain us. Within an hour, we are usually able to identify any number of areas where they have gone wrong. If you return to the initial page of our site, you will see a testimonial noting such a situation. As a result, we have decided to offer a service wherein you can have your plan reviewed. Obviously, no one can predict if you are going to succeed, but we can alert you to any obvious problem areas in your plan. Will AIL Review My Site? Yes, we review sites frequently to make sure they are complying with relevant legal requirements. Simply contact us to discuss your particular situation. Shooting Content If you intend to shoot content, we strongly suggest that you incorporate to protect yourself from lawsuits filed by models and third parties. Regardless, you absolutely must have all models sign a "model release" and obtain two forms of identification showing that they are not minors. These model releases are your "stay out of jail" card. You must keep your model releases at your primary place of production, which is typically the studio you shoot in or the area you do your editing. Do you need a permit to shoot content in your location? It depends entirely on your location. Some counties require permits and others do not. Legal Packages for Content Businesses: If you are pursuing a content production business, the following items are suggested as an absolute minimum. Your particular business plan may require more items.
As an example, assume that you have agreed to supply your content to a Webmaster for a new site. You have agreed to split the profits equally. Seems simple enough. What happens, however, if the site fails or you don't get along with the Webmaster? Do you get your content back or can the Webmaster continue to use it? Can you terminate your agreement with him? A contract covers these issues at the outset of the relationship and locks in your rights. If you do not have a contract, a court will have to decide who is telling the truth. Oral promises are worthless from a legal perspective. For more information on contracts, just contact us. Sites If you are going to develop a site, there are a number of factors that come into play. A central issue is whether you or an investor is concerned about being personally linked to the adult site. If you are not concerned, then the legal steps are fairly simple. If there are concerns about someone identifying you or an investor participating in the adult industry, it gets a bit more complex. We Don't Care if Anyone Knows We Have An Adult Site! In such a situation, we recommend that you incorporate to protect yourself from personal liability. If you are going to shoot your own content, you will need a model release. If you intend to buy content from others, you will not need a model release. You will, however, need to verify that they have model releases as well as the location and name of their custodian of records. Once you are past these issues, you will need the following items for your site:
For The Love of God, Nobody Can Know We Have an Adult Site! What if you or your partners wish to avoid being publicly linked to the site? Remember, State filings for most business entities list the shareholders or officers of the business as a public record. One method for pursuing your adult business without risking your public persona is to follow a double incorporation strategy. Read about this strategy under "business entities" on our Articles page. To pursue the double incorporation strategy, you will need two corporations, a loan document and a management contract. Once you have these, you will need the documents listed in the previous section. The use of a nominee corporation is a second method for effectively hiding the identity of the shareholders of the site. This strategy incorporates the use of a third party as the public face of the company. The third party will be listed as the shareholder and officer of the company on all public documents. Depending on the amount of anonymity you are seeking, this person will even sign business loans for the company and register the company with the IRS. So, which option should you choose for your adult business effort? It really depends on the specific issues involved in your situation. Feel free to contact us to discuss your particular situation. All initial consultations are conducted free of charge. Do you have questions? Are you looking for other information? Contact us - richard@adultinternetlaw.com.
Any offers contained herein to provide legal services are void where prohibited by law. AdultInternetLaw cannot represent clients generated through this Web site from states or countries where the material and information contained herein does not comply with local ethics rules. AdultInternetLaw has endeavored to comply with all known legal and ethical requirements in compiling this Web site. In the event that any material on or communication from this Web site does not conform with the laws or regulations of any state or country in which it may be received, AdultInternetLaw will not accept legal representation based on this material or communication from a person in such a state or country. Further, this Web site is for informational purposes only and your use of this site is not intended to and does not create an attorney-client relationship, does not constitute legal advice, and is not a substitute for legal advice from qualified legal counsel. Information on this Web site is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, and AdultInternetLaw cannot be held liable or responsible for any consequences, seen or unforeseen, arising out of your use of this Web site and the material contained herein. Any links provided on this Web site to other Web sites are not endorsements of the linked sites, and AdultInternetLaw is not responsible for your use of any linked Web sites.
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