Legality of Amatuer Porn

[cchew]

Hi folks,

Over the years, I've seen countless beautiful women in various stages of undress and activity on mainstream porn sites and it's been very good.
However, in this crazy new age of ubiquitous amateur sites that feature homemade porn, nude modeling and self-shot pics with practically no obligation or regard to the tenets of the almighty USC 2257, I've seen some questionable images in my day and have recently read about some rather distressing horror stories regarding the legality of some of these sites that have caused me to evaluate my browsing habits.

I've always made it a point to ID every single last model I view online, but erroneously (and perhaps irresponsibly) assumed if any well known site that is displaying nude females and that site hasn't been shut down, it's all gravy.

I won't lie, I'm a huge fan of porn and naked women, but I'm an even BIGGER fan of protecting the rights and innocence of minors, not to mention obeying the law.

The following are several specific legal queries I'd like to get the 411 on so there is no question of not being on the straight and narrow
(please forgive the stupidity of some of these but the things I've heard lately calls for extreme prudence):

1. What legal semantics are involved in viewing pornographic content online vs. downloading it?

2. Is there any difference in the legal status of watermarked vs. non-watermarked images?

3. Are there legal semantics involved when they say "shown at whatever.com" as opposed to "copyright whatever.com"?

4. If the image is watermarked from a "pro-amateur" site (IE: Bangbros, RealityKings, etc.), but you don't know the name or age of the girl in the image, is that safe to download?

5. If the image is watermarked from an UGG/amateur site, but you don't know the name or age of the girl in the image, is that safe to download?

6. What is the legality of possession of amateur videos (or any video, for that matter) downloaded from sites like ********, *****, xvideo, etc.?

7. Would you need to ID the model if she has distinctive "adult" physical features such as tattoos and piercings? Does the location of those tattoos and piercings matter
(bellybutton, lip/face, nipple(s) and clit)?

8. Legal status of candid/voyeur public photo sites like "Whaletail.com" and sites like it?

9. Legal status of amateur and self-shot photo sites like "4gifs" and "Whatboyswant"?

10. Is saving links and bookmarking amateur sites like the ones mentioned above considered illegal?

11. Amateur self-shot/homemade media with no ID or watermarks but you know the site where you got it from? (IE: Tumblr has a file naming system that doesn't allow you to track which blog the image originated from.)

12. Sleeping, peeing girls, or generally girl who picture has been taken without their knowledge, but is featured on amateur sites (watermark included)

13. Pictures of Facebook/Myspace women?

14. Non-nude random girls showing cleavage and/or wearing panties/thongs without ID or site watermarks?

15. Images of a woman's ass or chest (no face) without ID or site watermarks?

16. Saving watermarked images of purportedly 18+ models from sites that no longer exist?

17. Are even the fantasy/roleplaying videos forbidden (babysitter, schoolgirl, etc.), even if the pornstar is well known and of legal age? I've heard about people who've been arrested for this even when the girl was confirmed
to be well over 18 (!!!)

18. Visiting/downloading from image hosting sites who claim all models uploaded are over 18, but you don't know if they actively moderate?

19. Legal status of tumblr/blog porn in general. Is there limited liability because of the site's interconnectedness (everyone reblogs/links content to one another keeping things quite transparent?) Is there any legal liability for running an adult blog specifically using the Tumblr platform? I don't currently have one but I've been considering it.

My apologies for the wall of questions. I understand that this isn't a law forum so if no one can oblige me on these answers, might you kindly direct me to a place where I can
get the definitive answers I seek?

Thanks so much!

 

[Neutron66]

Hi folks,

Over the years,

That's as far as I got. Sorry.

Too much to read this late at night.

 

[Legzman]

I'm rather indiscriminate when it comes to porn. If the chick in the thumbnail is hot and it doesn't light up my anti-virus software like a christmas tree. I click. Other than that...I don't really care.

 

[Death-Proof-69]

don't ask unimportant questions...questions with that many words are, by default, unimportant...we're merely a bunch of porn addicts and overweight dudes from jersey on this site so we really have no interest in big, complex, wordy discussions pertaining to the legality of amateur porn

 

[RichardNailder]

don't ask unimportant questions...questions with that many words are, by default, unimportant...we're merely a bunch of porn addicts and overweight dudes from jersey on this site so we really have no interest in big, complex, wordy discussions pertaining to the legality of amateur porn

I'm not from Jersey

 

[Death-Proof-69]

I'm not from Jersey

ooo, a high class member...:hatsoff:


yeah i'm not from jersey either though....:dunno:

 

[cchew]

I should have known I'd get answers like these on this board. Sorry I asked, but thanks for the laughs!

 

[Rey C.]

I should have known I'd get answers like these on this board. Sorry I asked, but thanks for the laughs!

Well, to be fair, your questions are about legalities. But just because this is a porn board, that doesn't mean that we would know about every obscenity law that would cover every nation on Earth. Right? :dunno:


What's legal? Well, what's legal where I live might be very different from what's legal where you live... unless you live next door to me. Interesting, well thought out questions... but a guy who asks about changing the air filter on his car catches hell around here. So yeah, it goes without saying you weren't going to get far with all that.

 

[RichardNailder]

I should have known I'd get answers like these on this board. Sorry I asked, but thanks for the laughs!

If you are seeking legal advise on a board, any board, then you should expect answers like these.

Personally I get my legal advice from my attorney. :2 cents:

 

[cchew]

No harm done! I wasn't trying to sound spiteful...I'm just acknowledging the fact that I was wrong to ask these kind of questions (especially in such volume) on a board/site where that isn't the focus. That said, I was genuinely amused by the comments, its just unfortunate that they don't yield the answers I seek. Thanks for trying!

 

[cchew]

PS - Even at the bottom of my original post I said "My apologies for the wall of questions. I understand that this isn't a law forum so if no one can oblige me on these answers, might you kindly direct me to a place where I can
get the definitive answers I seek?"

I guess no one made it THAT far!

 

[Rey C.]

PS - Even at the bottom of my original post I said "My apologies for the wall of questions. I understand that this isn't a law forum so if no one can oblige me on these answers, might you kindly direct me to a place where I can
get the definitive answers I seek?"

I guess no one made it THAT far!

I saw that, but :dunno: With real estate or securities law, I could at least give you a few forums to visit. But on this topic, the only suggestion I have is to contact an attorney (or maybe someone who teaches constitutional law) directly. You're asking some very good questions. But as I said, most obscenity laws are community based and are local in nature. Some of your questions are very specific, so unless we knew where you lived, even a good answer for our own area might not apply to you. For that matter, it's just an assumption on my part that you're in the United States. We have people on here from all over the world.

Try contacting this attorney: Paul Cambria - pcambria@lglaw.com

 

[joesup3rtramp]

Stop worrying about the laws. If your not prowling for underage girls. Your not knowingly and willingly downloading illegal shit. There is some fine print in the laws. Should be available at a library.

 

[cchew]

I saw that, but :dunno: With real estate or securities law, I could at least give you a few forums to visit. But on this topic, the only suggestion I have is to contact an attorney (or maybe someone who teaches constitutional law) directly. You're asking some very good questions. But as I said, most obscenity laws are community based and are local in nature. Some of your questions are very specific, so unless we knew where you lived, even a good answer for our own area might not apply to you. For that matter, it's just an assumption on my part that you're in the United States. We have people on here from all over the world.

Try contacting this attorney: Paul Cambria - pcambria@lglaw.com

Much obliged, Rey C! You're absolutely correct.

 

[MikeyK]

Your post is way to long and I only read about half of it. If you are seriously interested in learning the law a porn site is not a great place to do it.

Just to help you out. You only need a models info and 2257 if the content is sexually graphic. You do not need a 2257 to take nude photos of people. Technically Playboy does not need 2257 info. Also only the producers of porn need to maintain 2257 info.

Obscenity laws vary and you should look them up yourself.

 

[alexpnz]

I'm from Jersey and not overweight....Kiss my ass DP!