Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Third Circuit Decides Adult Film Industry Challenge to Federal Recordkeeping Laws

BY Saranac Hale Spencer
June 02, 2015

Federal regulations requiring producers of pornographic material to keep records of their models' ages don't violate the First Amendment, but the warrantless searches they authorize violate the Fourth Amendment, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in Free Speech Coalition Inc. v. Holder, 13-3681.

This is the second ruling from the appeals court on the case brought by a group of artists and movie makers, led by the trade association for the adult film industry, the Free Speech Coalition, challenging two federal statutes that require them to keep records with the ages of their models and actors and be prepared to show the records to the FBI with little notice.

The law at issue is 18 U.S.C. '2257, enacted in 1988, and accompanying regulations that require producers of sexually explicit material to: maintain a record of the name and birth date of every performer in a given work; post a statement about where the records are located; and make the records available to the attorney general at all reasonable times. Section 2257A, enacted in 2006, imposes the same requirements for illustrations of simulated sex acts.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.