Two major adult website players have filed a lawsuit against ICM Registry, the site that controls .xxx hosting names. The lawsuit states that the prices for adult web hosting sites are too high, and that these prices need to be lowered in order to create healthy competition.

Details of the .XXX Lawsuit

Typically, an average .xxx site name sells for $100. This is a high price to pay for average website companies. Even though the adult entertainment business is a lucrative one, most online adult companies do not generate revenue right away.

One of the people behind the lawsuit goes by the name of ‘Manwin’ and runs a handful of adult websites. Manwin is asking that the prices be lowered, and claims that these prices are unfair when compared to the rest of the hosting community. Manwin has won this case, and .xxx sites will be cheaper to purchase throughout the month of May.

Lowered Adult Web Hosting Prices In May

Throughout the month of May, .xxx domains will be sold at $7.85. Any companies that lock into this rate during May will be able to maintain the same rate for 10 years. So, if you want to start an adult online entertainment website, now’s your chance to lock in a decent rate.

In addition to requesting lowered .xxx rates, Manwin is also protesting the splatter of advertisements across his sites. Right now, ICM Registry has the right to include any of its chosen advertisements on .xxx sites, but this is going to change in the very near future.

Is $100 Per Domain Too Much?

You might be thinking: “ok, a major adult site can’t afford a $100 domain name? What nonsense!” But, if you think in other terms, you might see how this price is really on the high side. What are those terms? Most adult entertainment companies buy a number of different domains.

The two “major players” that filed this particular lawsuit have more than a handful of domain names between them. Think about $100 X 6 or 7, and you can see why this price is too high. Plus, lowering the price to under $8 will leave room for other people to set up adult domain names. So it all makes sense.

Remember: .xxx domain names are currently selling for under $8 throughout the month of May. If you want to set up an adult site, do it now!

Adult Sites

It’s another revenge porn lawsuit: a Florida woman claims her ex-boyfriend uploaded some pornographic pictures he had taken of her to a variety of different websites / Adult Sites. This woman is outraged and has filed a handful of lawsuits against anyone involved.

You may remember the story we ran about 23 women who filed a class-action lawsuit against those who own Texxxan[dot]com, a website where users upload pornographic pictures of women (typically ex-girlfriends or ex-wives) without their consent, as well as GoDaddy for providing adult hosting services despite knowing full well what Texxxan[dot]com was all about.

Adult Sites: The Lawsuit

Just as with the Texxxan[dot]com lawsuit, it is holding a wide range of parties responsible. But is this going to fly in court? The Florida woman, Holly Jacobs, is suing her ex-boyfriend Ryan Seay, the four websites that posted the pictures, and the shared hosting companies that allowed these sites to post the pictures. But Seay did more than just post pictures!

The lawsuit says that Seay “took appropriated, or otherwise obtained pornographic images” of Jacobs while they were still together. When they broke up, Jacobs says he “began publishing pornographic photographs and video of the plaintiff as well as plaintiff’s name, occupation, details about her schedule, and other personal and private facts about the plaintiff on various websites.”

Adult Sites: Revenge Porn Sites Or Not?

The problem: these sites aren’t exclusively revenge porn sites. Jacobs lists the four sites — anonib[dot]com, pinkmeth[dot]tv, sextingpics[dot]com, and xhamster[dot]com — and labels them revenge porn sites. She says the sites “traffic in pornographic photographs of young women and children as well as private facts and details of the victims.” However, if you view the sites, that isn’t necessarily the case.

Upon visiting XHamster, you see that it isn’t about revenge porn at all, just porn in general. The site states, “we created a perfect platform for users to share their own amateur content and for producers to advertise their professional works.” Pinkmeth[dot]tv is nowhere to be seen, apparently offline, and AnonIB may have pornographic content, but again, it is not revenge porn-specific. Sextingpics, on the other hand, seems to be all about revenge porn.

Adult Sites: What About The Shared Hosting Companies?

Although Jacobs names the companies providing adult hosting services to these four sites, it isn’t likely she’ll claim a victory here. Why? Web hosting companies are granted immunity for the content their customers post for the most part, thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

In fact, the sites themselves may be protected by this very same Section 230. It all depends on their involvement in going through the content users submitted.

According to legal scholar Eric Goldman regarding the GoDaddy revenge porn case, “The legal question isn’t close.” Despite Section 230, a judge opted not to allow GoDaddy to remove its name from the lawsuit. In the judge’s words: “After reading the authorities presented to the court and considering the arguments of counsel, it is my opinion that the Motion to Dismiss should be denied at this time.”

What Jacobs Wants

In her quest to hold all parties accountable for public disclosure of private facts, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, she is looking to stop these images from being distributed on the Internet Adult sites, as well as money (surprise, surprise.)

Ultimately, she wants to see these types of sites / Adult sites banned altogether. She has founded a group called End Revenge Porn, working with lobbyists to convince lawmakers to pass a bill to make the act of posting pornographic pictures or videos with personal information attached to any website, including social media sites, a felony.

Most people probably agree that sites like this shouldn’t be allowed. However, do you think that the shared hosting companies should be held accountable for the actions of the site owners? Let us know how you feel!