Seeking Public Assistance....

My name is JJ Ruch. I am the owner of Sebastian Sloane Productions (a gay adult studio).

I have a real problem, and I'm seeking help......

There are several sites that I know of:
XTube.com, EVideoShare.com, PornoTube.com

With these sites I named, the public can share movies. What they're sharing and posting are actual studio titles. Titles from Hot Desert Knights, SX Video, my studio line, Atticmen, EON Films, MenAtPlay.tv, Raging Stallion, Falon, and dozens others.

These are free sites. All someone should need to watch the videos is a username and password, and on some of them - not even that.

Think about it... 8 out of every 10 homes have the internet. Why should someone need to pay for porn when they can watch it free on these sites. These sites each average aprox. 11,000 different hits a day (I've done a bit of investigating).

We all know that dvd sales are dropping. And this I'm almost certain is part of the reason. Again, why should they pay for porn when they can get it for free.

And 9 times out of 10 I'm damn sure they're downloading it with free p2p programs like Shareaza, Kazaa, BearShare, etc. And then they can easily edit the clip to make it shorter with a windows program that comes with your computer when you buy it called Movie Maker.

I don't know about you guys, but I make my living by producing videos, webmastering websites, etc.

The movies anyone can post are anywhere from 2 minutes to 2 hours in length. I mean they are posting full length movies.

I'm down for a big long fight to put an end to this! Hopefully I can seek help from the public (you guys). I'm sure some of you don't care, but are you going to care when your making $100 a month on dvd sales? Think about it. Even Video On Demand like XonDemand, AEBN, Hot Movies, etc. stats are dropping. Again, why would you pay for it when you can get it for free.

I don't know how to stop this, but I'm starting it. I'm very irratated by this. I'm up for a very long fight and I will fight and fight to try and put an end to this.

Further Questions, Comments, Concerns Please let me know.

Sincerely,
JJ Ruch
President / Owner
NoW @ ONE Entertainment

these people all have legit businesses, don't whinge because you have competition!!! Thats just pathetic. There is no stopping this type of change on the internet, you should realize that and spend your time and money working on more creative ways of getting members.

cheers,
Luke

Dude, I'm not trashing them. I'm just saying these sites are killing sales.

I have members to my sites, I have 112 members. My sites just went live 2 weeks ago. I'm definately not worried about money. I'm a studio producer, I model occasionaly for shits and giggles, and I have many different websites. And I also do work outside the adult industry as a wedding consultant. And I have a husband that makes over 100k a year at Dun & Bradstreet.

Anyways, All I'm saying is that why should people buy our products or any other products when they can go to these sites and watch it for free. Everyone's here to make money. Eventually more and more people are going to find out about these free sites. They're going to go there.... even a webmaster.... if they can watch free stuff why should they join your website?

Yes, I agree these free sites are good for branding and posting clips of your website members areas to entise the viewers to check out your site.

But what about when people are downloading full length movies from the
p2p programs, and then uploading it to the free sites? That's giving it away for free. And I think that part is wrong. When the videos exceed more than 10 mins. or what not and it's purpose is not meant to drive traffic to a site, thats when I have a problem.

Not only that, I found one of MY Studio video scenes on EvideoShare.com with a website URL on it saying "TwistedStuds.com" Which isn't one of my sites. I know it's my film because the 2 models in it are exclusive to my studio, and the scene was shot in MY house. Of course I had them pull it. Anyways, thats besides the point.

Your totally missing what I'm saying.

-JJ

I am not missing what you are saying. My point was that imho you would be wise to spend your money and energy on different things other than fighting these sites.

It depends what it's worth to you ... Titan employs a full-time lawyer you does nothing but chase copyright infringement issues on the Web.

About the only thing you can do as an individual is follow YouTube's procedures for copyright infringement complaints. You could try using DRM technology on your site to protect your movies, but that'll just piss off a bunch of your members.

What I would suggest is simply make sure all of you Web video clips are watermarked with your URL through the whole movie. At least that'll brand your site.

Finally, since you're all fired up about it maybe getting together a group of affected studios to approach YouTube is your calling. Why don't you spearhead it? If the other studios are interested, they'll join you; if not, you'll know where you stand.

Michael

I see what your saying, and I understand what your saying.

I just think this is kinda wrong for us as film producers to let people give away our videos. We're losing money at that.

And I'm not wasting my energy or money focusing on shutting them down. I'm not trying to shut them down. I just don't think people should be able to post our movies full length or half hour videos up there. If they can see it there why should they pay for it.

Of course, I'm sure nobody cares. But I'd like to make money since I'm almost dependent upon this industry to pay my bills and I'm sure a lot of others are as well.

-JJ

I see what your saying.

I don't have a membership site on SebastianSloaneProductions.com or SebastianSloane.com YET.

I'm not fighting this for myself. Before I posted on GayWideWebmasters.com I sent out an e-mail to other studios I deal with. I got emails back from 4 of the studios indicating, "This is wrong, what do we need to do to help you." Other people see what I'm saying. I guess you guys don't.

I did contact Evideoshare about the vid clip that TwistedStuds.com did using my video. I proved to them it was mine, they pulled the video off and suspended the users acct.

However, the other stuff since it's not my stuff there's really nothing I can do unless someone is using my stuff.

And for the record. I sell dvds as well. I own GetGayMovies.com and I preview titles sent to me. I've seen 3 scenes on Evideoshare using scenes from the movie "Trespass"

Again, why would someone want to buy the movie "Trespass" when they can watch it for free there which then generates a profit loss for Titan Media.

Do you see what I'm saying?

-JJ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dzinerbear

About the only thing you can do as an individual is follow YouTube's procedures for copyright infringement complaints.

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Youtube (purchased by Google for 1.65 bil) doesn't allow pornographic movies. His complaint is with Xtube and Pornotube and they are not owned by Youtube.

Btw, AEBN owns Xtube.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xstr8guy

Btw, AEBN owns Xtube.

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So is pornotube.

Which is actually quite interesting from a legal/copyright standpoint as one would expect AEBN have licences to do pretty much anything within reason in terms of 'online' distribution of studios titles that they deem necessary for 'promotion' of the movie titles.

Regards,

Lee

AEBN doesn't own XTube.com. AEBN owns PornoTube.com

XTube.com is owned by Webnovas Technologies, INC. out of Canada. I think it's linked with Maleflixxx. I THINK.

AEBN owns PornoTube.com

And secondly, my complaint is more focused on EVideoshare.

Xtube allows more of your homemade stuff. Like guys with cams at home having a good time and they post the video.

Pornotube allows the same thing. But it's also made more to push videos on AEBN and for webmasters to promote videos.

Evideoshare, take a look. Look through their site. There's clips posted from Falcon, EON FIlms, cobra video, I've found 2 of my scenes that I never knew about there, etc. They aren't little snipets. They are damn near full length movies. Evideoshare allows anyone and everyone to post videos.

I've paid my attorney $150 fricking dollars just to send them a cease and desist letter and a threat I'd sue them if they didn't remove the videos. He sent them 2 letters on 2 different occasions.
I've spoken with 3 other studios so far today. They've done the same thing.

You'd think Evideoshare would pull down their "Sexual Gay" Section by now.

Studios... take a look, I can guaran-damn-tee-it that you'll find your studios there. I've seen full length movies and full length action scenes on there. I highly doubt a studio would do that.

I know what people are doing... they're downloading the movie or there's even ways you can do it just watching it on AEBN. And here's how:

[edited by Lee]

You can do this with aebn videos, xondemand videos, doggonevideo.com movies. You can also do them here.

I just copied that from one of the movie comments area on Evideoshare.com

People are telling people how to do this.

You all are ignoring me and making it sound like oh it's no big deal, this retarded 24 year old who knows nothing is making this a big deal.

Find out for yourself, you'll see.....

-JJ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sebslopro

And here's how:

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Thats smart, tell people HOW they can continue to steal other peoples content LOL

One one hand, we can bitch about the fact people are stealing content, on the other, we can also explain to them, in detail, how they can continue to do it.

Regards,

Lee

I copied that information from one of the comments field.

You guys think I'm just playing some sick joke... I'm not. Someone knows how to do that and they're telling others how to "steal" content. And they're telling others how to steal comment. There's no way you can edit that.

I wish you guys seen things the way I'm seeing them and then you would understand. But you don't. It's all good.

-JJ

Lee, I wish you didn't edit out that whole paragraph and just put in a "quote" but not the whole thing because I think the VoD sources should know how people know how to "steal content." Maybe if others seeing that would support me instead of think I'm playing jokes or not being serious.

Oh well.... I want to fight for this, I have spoken to my attorney this morning and told him what's going on, he said a lot of this is copyright infringement because EVideoShare is allowing people to do so and it looks as if they don't screen what people produce. They only remove videos when people remove them themselves, or when they get a cease and desist.

Of course, Evideoshare.com said the same thing to me.

I don't know about you guys.... I'd rather spend my $150 into paying a model rather than paying my attorney to send a letter.

Have fun.

It's not that no one cares. You are doing exactly what you should be doing... drawing attention to the problem and hiring your own attorney.

And as far as editing your post... that was the proper thing to do. Who wants MORE people to find out how to steal videos? Share this kind of thing in private and directly with the VOD companies. Not on a board that the public can access and later be linked to by google. You are defeating your own purpose.

I see what your saying about the editing. I didn't want the whole thing going out... It was my fault by typing so. I appologize.

I'm glad you understand.

I have gotten my attorney involved. Everyday he's checking to see if my titles appear again in the "new" section.
But there's nothing he can do because MY titles aren't being used. He can only intervene if my titles are live again.
HOWEVER, if he has to send them a letter again, it'll be the third time and we are suing them. But truthfully, I don't feel like going through that battle from business to business. That could be drawn out for years...

I kinda want to get people involved to look for their titles and everyone basicly talk to them or something of which will get Evideoshare.com to change their site. They don't profit on it. They only profit on the affiliate programs used.

I just firmly believe they should narrow the videos uploaded to like 2 minutes. Instead of allowing individuals to upload half hour - 2 hour videos.
And moderate as well.

-JJ

Xtube and Pornotube have been very responsive to us when we've sent proper DMCA notices. In several cases, the content has been removed in under an hour.

These sites are here to stay. It's just another shift in the industry that is going to throw people for a loop until they figure out how to make money with it.

The peer-to-peer providers are a different issue, but I believe that we'll eventually have technology that will slow the delivery of that content as well.

Ultimately, if you make a great product that's compelling enough, people will pay for it. If somebody downloads one of our videos off of a peer-to-peer program and likes it, they are more likely to look for more of our content and either buy it on pay-per-view, join a site where it's available, or buy a DVD.

Of course, if someone is infringing directly by swiping entire scenes or DVDs, we do take steps to prevent this, but the RIAA and MPAA have been fighting this battle for years, and I think it's just something that we do the best we can to fight and otherwise figure out how to make a great product that people will pay for, and price it in a way that people will buy.

Just my two cents...

But unless you took the time to register your title with the Federal Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#cr) remember that all you can do when someone infringes on your copyright is ask for a cease and dessist. You can not seek any other damages. (See the second bullet point on the government website regarding this fact.)

Only movies that are REGISTERED with the copyright office enjoy that protection. I wonder how many studios actually take the time to do that...

If your product is registered, you do not need to contact the websites at all. Simply contact the FBI (http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/cyberedletter.htm)
and an agent will be in touch with you.

The FBI is very FAST and and FREE to use if you feel someone is violating your REGISTERED Copyright. Of course, while they are taking your complaint, they might want to peek at your 2257 docs, so make sure your shit is inline first.

Sorry, I forgot to give you the website where you can report P2P theft.

http://www.ic3.gov/

If you think people are stealing your shit...then do something about it. We do.

But I also value the use of P2P networks, and our most valuable content is DRM'd for protection...and none of my members seem to complain.