Where can I ship adult DVDs?

Hey, anyone have a "definitive" answer about where I can ship adult DVDs to, from my web store?

I thought there was some subscription service I could get, where each quarter they'd mail me a database of all the "bad" zip codes in the USA, but I can't seem to find it.

I've tried culling information from other web sites, but they tend to erase entire states ("we can't ship to NV, OH, GA" etc) or even worse, they don't have the full info ("can't ship to parts of Florida"). I hate cutting out an entire state (though Utah may win, anyhow... heh).

thx

I have a list of 'adult friendly' zip codes somewhere, ill see if i can dig them out for you :)

Regards,

Lee

that would be very cool, though I'd imagine it's a big list.

I wonder why no adult lawyer offers a service like this-- esp with the regular updates, which seem important as the political landscape shifts all the time.

Skot, if you find the subscription list, we'd love to subscribe to it.

Our understanding is that the reason it's so hard to find a definitive list is that it's a moving target, and also subject to interpretation. For example, I've seen some lists that ban Florida completely, others that ban only a few zip codes.

The list we use (I can have AJ forward it to you) is one that was given by Larry Flynt to Badpuppy, but it's at least a year or two old. I just tried to find an updated one from Hustler's site, but apparently they don't sell direct to the end user consumer.

Skot,

It actually looks like the list i have is also missing a lot of states so i dont think its going to be that much different to the one you already have :(

Regards,

Lee

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Originally Posted by boyfunk

Skot, if you find the subscription list, we'd love to subscribe to it.

Our understanding is that the reason it's so hard to find a definitive list is that it's a moving target, and also subject to interpretation. For example, I've seen some lists that ban Florida completely, others that ban only a few zip codes.

The list we use (I can have AJ forward it to you) is one that was given by Larry Flynt to Badpuppy, but it's at least a year or two old. I just tried to find an updated one from Hustler's site, but apparently they don't sell direct to the end user consumer.

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hi Chip-- that'd be cool, I'd love to see what you have.

I agree, it is a moving target, but right now any kind of reference would be better than nothing. I still think it would be a great biz idea for a 1st-amendment lawyer... especially since they have to keep up with obscenity developments, anyhow, which seems like it'd be the hardest part of the job. the rest is just mapping locations to zip codes and servicing the customers (sending out updated databases, billing, etc.).

we may end up asking a lawyer to compile a list for us, anyhow-- I love the idea of NOT going to prison for some weird obscenity charges from a conservative community who doesn't care for the watersports videos we ship. :-\

We ship to every state. We have never not shipped to a state. And, e make what some consider pretty hardcore films. The reason we ship to every state is becasue if the DoJ is going to prosecute you they will simply go to a very conservative location, as they did in the Exteme Associates case, and order a film and then prosecute you in that location. In the Extreme Associates case it was, I believe, just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, in an area that had never had an obscenity prosecution.

Their is no such thing as a "safe" location to ship to. Any part of the United States that you ship to places you in a vulnerable position if the DoJ decides they want to go after you for obscenity. If you don't believe that, just talk to Seymour Butts who was recently prosecuted in Los Angeles.

The list you are referring, to that was given to Badpuppy by Larry Flynt, is called the Cambria List. It gets its name from Paul Cambria, Larry Flynts attorney. Cambria was asked by Flynt to develop such a list. From my understaning, Cambria simply looked back 20 years or so to see where any obscenity prosecution had ever taken place and then included those zip codes on the list. Assuming that is true, the list was out of date the day it was created. To the best of my knowledge, no such list exist that is accurate.

I guess what it really boils down to is that if you are going to be in the business of making adult material, then either be in it all the way, or get out of it. To not ship to entire states would really cut into you profit. And, of course, make sure that you retain a good 1st Amendment attorney.

Bill

I agree with HDKBIll. You should feel relatively safe shipping anywhere in the U.S., as long as you're not tempting fate with easily-targeted material. But keep a watchful eye on the news to see when and where obscenity prosecutions pop up around the country. AVN, XBiz and the Free Speech Coalition are good sources of current news. Then, weigh what's going on against your comfort level.

Hmm, thanks for the info guys, I apprecaite it.

Here's a related question then... is watersports content consdiered "risky" to ship? That's about as "extreme" as we get, but, you know, I don't want someone freaky Anita Bryant follower in the backwaters of the Florida Panhandle to get upset about our 18-year-olds peeing on each other :-)

thx
skot

Based on recent obscenity prosecutions, it would seem that urination, defecation, sex with animals, and any combination of sex with cruelty or pain are prime targets for zealous prosecutors. Maybe Chad can add to this?

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Originally Posted by skot

Here's a related question then... is watersports content consdiered "risky" to ship? That's about as "extreme" as we get, but, you know, I don't want someone freaky Anita Bryant follower in the backwaters of the Florida Panhandle to get upset about our 18-year-olds peeing on each other :-)

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I've also heard that watersports are problematic.

In fact, I think that Paycom just bounced a site we submitted for review because we had a *link* to another site that itself had no urination, but they had a link to a urination site... so we're suddenly responsible for what's happening 2 links away from us. We removed the link, but I doubt Paycom would be asking if it wasn't a problem for them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skot

Hmm, thanks for the info guys, I apprecaite it.

Here's a related question then... is watersports content consdiered "risky" to ship? That's about as "extreme" as we get, but, you know, I don't want someone freaky Anita Bryant follower in the backwaters of the Florida Panhandle to get upset about our 18-year-olds peeing on each other :-)

thx
skot

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Skot,

We've been shipping WS and Fisting vids to every state since 1998 and have never had a problem. Doesn't mean that tomorrow the DoJ might not be knocking on the door though.

Some ISP's and billing companies, like CCBill do seem to have a problem with it. CCBill made us change some text and remove reference to WS, that's after have the text on our site for a number of years.

I'm not familiar with any recent obscenity prosecutions due simply to WS. According to my understanding, Florida prohibits both yet we've been shipping there with no problems and many bookstores in Florida sell out DVD's apparently with no problems.

Bill

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we had a *link* to another site that itself had no urination, but they had a link to a urination site.

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good lord!!!

if people are to apply this sort of spider search then almost every site on the net will be in violation since usually every site is linked to all others in this way

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Originally Posted by citiboyz

Based on recent obscenity prosecutions, it would seem that urination, defecation, sex with animals, and any combination of sex with cruelty or pain are prime targets for zealous prosecutors. Maybe Chad can add to this?

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There seems to be a general area that is the "theme" of most, not all of the obscenity prosecutions and those videos include violence against women. In those videos, the male models don't just fuck the female models, they beat them, rape them, or kill them. I think it triggers the zealous law enforcement's sense of patriarchy--they hate porn but hate to see the brutal abuse of women in porn even more. Gay videos are just gross to them and who wants to show a gay video to a jury?
Right now, it does not appear that gay videos of any kind are high on the obscenity chart. Of course, that could change at any time without warning.
:eek:

Like Bill was saying, no safe place (espcecially with the Bush Porn Squad in full force). However, to reduce our risk, we DO NOT ship to the following states/territories:

Utah, Tenn, Neb, Miss, N.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

We'll ship anywhere else in the world.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chadknowslaw

Right now, it does not appear that gay videos of any kind are high on the obscenity chart. Of course, that could change at any time without warning.
:eek:

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Very good point!

It does seem like we are always scurrying around trying to outsmart old Uncle Sam or at least think a few steps ahead.

We have learned that they'll get ya if they want to using any method they want...be it back taxes, local ordinances or whatever.

We just try to keep our noses clean. (we use a lot of fresh kleenex)!

heh-- thanks all for the replies. seems like I am probably ok with the WS videos for now, though I like the idea of crossing off a few very-high-risk states (like Mississippi), even though I have this crazy theory that the per-capita demand is higher for the videos there! something about the more repressed a community is, the more they want to act out... the same reason there's so much drag in the South, right? heh.

we offer billing through our own merchant account, livecharge and verotel and I know those last two are pretty liberal and haven't made any demands about changing any copy on our site.

best
skot
(who lived in Alabama and has spent lots o' time in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida)