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In a summary judgement issued today, Judge Howard Lloyd of the Northern California Federal District Court declared that online video site Veoh can not be held liable for copyright infringement in a case brought by the Io Group, an adult content producer better known as Titan Media. Users had uploaded clips of gay male action to Veoh, including one clip which ran 40 minutes. Rather than issue takedown notices to Veoh, the Io Group sued immediately for infringement. The judge found that Veoh’s policies and practices in terms of policing the site — both at the time and currently — were “reasonable.” Such practices include fingerprinting video files in order to block identical copies from being uploaded in the future and disabling the accounts of repeat infringers, which the site has done 1,096 times since it’s launch, according to the company. The precedent it sets could very well aid YouTube in it’s defense of similar allegations brought in the suit by Viacom. After the jump, highlights from Lloyd’s decision.When Veoh allowed adult material on the site, it was all about customer service:

Veoh employees occasionally “spot check” videos after publication for compliance with Veoh’s policies and to ensure accuracy in the description and categorization of the content. For example, Veoh has, on occasion, edited the video description field. And, when adult content was still permitted on veoh.com, Veoh employees sometimes reviewed files to ensure proper ratings on any file containing sexually explicit material and reviewed sexually explicit files to determine whether they should be identified as “gay” or “straight” and added tags as needed.

Lloyd also made it clear that “reasonable” steps to keeping serial infringers off the site does not have to include blocking IP addresses, since those only identify the computer, not the user:

Here, Io has presented no evidence suggesting that tracking (or verifying) users’ actual identity or that blocking their IP addresses is a more effective reasonable means of implementation. There is no material dispute that, while IP addresses identify a particular computer connected to the Internet, they do not distinguish between users (e.g., family
members) who may share the same computer.

The plaintiffs also argued that Veoh, in transcoding video into Flash and pulling stills for thumbnail preview images, exempted it from the DMCA’s safe harbor provisions. Again, the judge disagreed:

Essentially, the issue is whether Veoh is disqualified from Section 512(c)’s safe harbor because of automated functions that facilitate access to user-submitted content on its website. In the context of Veoh’s business, this appears to be a matter of first impression. Based on the record presented, this court concludes that Veoh is not disqualified from Section 512(c) safe harbor on this basis.

In the end, it’s a big win for Veoh and for other online video sites — users can upload all the copyrighted ass-fucking they want, but as long as they follow standard DMCA procedure, they can rest assured that they won’t be held liable.

Internet Explorer 8 is taking a step in the right direction it appears.  The new release of the browser will include a privacy mode, being called “porn mode” by some.

Of course its a bit more than that when in “privacy mode” IE 8 will block the browser from storing any data about you, this includes cookies, temporary internet files, history etc.

The idea is to prevent sites from getting anything from you and to prevent any trace that you ever visited the site.

No word on it it will be available for Windows XP or if it will be Vista only.

Duane Moore Read, 37 aka Tony Eveready, already a convicted felon, was sentenced yesterday to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to firearm possesion and cocaine charges.

He has reportedly done time on  spousal abuse charges in the past related to his relationship with ex performer Michelle Raven.

In aletter sent by industry attorney jeffrey Douglas he is asking the adult community to write letters to the judge on Max Hardcore’s behalf.

That is a very risky move and not a very intelligent one as more than one person has already used the address given to write the judge telling her that the industry despises Max and those like him, that they don’t consider Max to even be a part of our industry.

Personally I like Paul Little OK, he has always been cool to me.  I don’t like his movies and have been outspoken about the industry letting the likes of him and Rob Black choose our battles for us.

But at the same time I don’t like this whole obscenity thing, I don’t think Max should go to jail for obscenity. Period. Now if they wanted to charge Max with assault and battery, rape, sexual assault let them make that case but obscenity is a nebulous term and in this day and age shouldn’t even be a crime.

Maybe it is karma for Max but it still stinks.

The real interesting debates this election year are going to be between the VP Candidates.

Joe Biden is a vicious SOB and McCain is almost certainly going to pick “Slick” Mitt Romney as his running mate and Mitt is no slouch either, though I don’t think is a match for Biden.

Those are gonna make for some good debates I betcha.

Remember you read it here first..prolly

It hasnt been confirmed but I gotta good source says thats who it is

Update: The Democratic Camp is saying No it isnt Bayh, Kaine has stated it isnt him and Hillary is seen as highly unlikely

leaving Joe Biden who in my opinion is the best choice. Biden shores up Obamas weaknesses in foreign policy and experience. he is also a vicious attack dog and can do the campaigns dirty work.

OK for all you pervs (Like Frank) who thought the New Zealand Story was useless without pics, here’s a few pics from the event, I dont know who owns the pics but some guy posted them on ADT so I will credit them, for now.

Day 1: 14 hour flight touches down at 5am local time. Pornstars detained for five hours with no access to food or water and an over zealous air conditioner. New Zealand curiously interested in their bank accounts and shampoo bottles.

Day 2: Pornstar involved in brief street brawl in the midst of 100,000 apathetic bystanders over her tits. Pornstar defensively hits aggressor. Agressor hits back. Pornstar shocked.

Day 3: Third pornstar has severe reaction to pre dinner drink. Takes a cab home immediately. Still feels like shit the following morning.

Day 4: Entire adult convention evacuated with fire alarms and loud speakers. Fire fighters rush in weilding axes. All three pornstars roll eyes but give a sigh of relief after signing for 12 hours straight.

Day 5: Pornstars probably just choose not to leave their hotel rooms.

You may have read this story from NZCITY

But what it doesn’t tell you is that our very own Kayden Kross was the victim. She is a little rattled and a lot pissed but she isn’t hurt and she took it all in stride.

Apparently the guy was just some drolling idiot who was drinking on an empty brain or something.

We wish Kayden the best!

20 August 2008
The organiser of the Boobs on Bikes parade is accusing a spectator of decking one of his porn stars.

An estimated 100,000 people lined Auckland’s Queen St to watch the controversial parade.

Organiser Steve Crow says a parade participant, who is a guest from overseas, was hit by a crowd member.

“He actually came up to the car that I was in and was complaining and was saying how disgusting it was . . . then he goes and reaches to grab one of the girls and when she pushes him away, he punches her in the face.”

Mr Crow says it is a shame his guest had to see such behaviour while in New Zealand. He says a complaint is being laid with the police.

At the other end of the parade, a group of around 60 anti-porn protestors say they were heckled and had objects thrown at them as they walked down the street well ahead of the Boobs on Bikes. One protestor says bottles and ice were hurled at them, but he still felt it was important for them to be there and get their message across.

Organiser and Auckland Women’s Centre manager Leonie Morris says the parade forced everyone on Queen St to see women portrayed as sex objects.

“Once you turn someone into an object, you can demean them, you can degrade them, you can disrespect them, you can harm them and abuse them.”

Ms Morris says women and men should enjoy their sexuality without demeaning women and turning them into objects.

There were mixed reactions from the crowd, with one woman saying she thinks it a really sad state of the country that so many people are so excited about seeing breasts. While a man said people buy porn everyday and he did not see a problem with it.

A small group of men could be seen praying on the footpath while the parade went past.

On this whole Georgia/Ossetia thing.

As I understand it South Ossetia has been aligned with Russia for some time, it is geographically a part of Georgia right on the Georgia Russia Border, but is doesn’t want to be a part of Georgia.

Ok along comes Georgia and attacks South Ossetia because they want to bring them back into Georgia.

Russia comes to their defense.

Now why is the USA even concerned about this? What business of ours is in this?

So George Bush is rattling our sabre but in reality Russia could roll tanks through Georgia all the way to the Black Sea and there aint a fucking thing Bush could do about  it short of starting a nuclear war.

So Bush has a war on two fronts, Afghanistan  and Iraq, is preparing for war on a third front with Iran, and now wants to threaten Russia?

Im I wrong in thinking this is just pure insanity?