LOS ANGELES — Free Speech Coalition Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas says that all areas of the adult industry are vulnerable to lawsuits under new mandatory condom initiative in California, regardless of where they are in the production chain, and in some cases, where or what they produce. He and others will discuss the new ballot initiative, slated for a vote this November, at 1PM today as part of Xbiz.
“Many producers assume that because they produce outside the state, or because they use condoms already, that they are exempt from the effects of this initiative,” says Douglas “Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The enforcement mechanisms in this initiative operate on a presumption of guilt. If this ballot initiative passes, producers everywhere are going to end up battling lawyers looking for a quick settlement.”
The Weinstein Initiative requires that any California adult production use condoms for penetrative sex. However, since the enforcement depends on individual private citizens filing lawsuits against non-compliant producers, this means that even out-of-state producers, cam sites and performers can expect to face a barrage of lawsuits that assume California production.
“Producers are going to have to hire counsel, regardless of where or when the filming took place. If your film is being sold in California — and that means almost anything online — you’re vulnerable under the law. Given the thousands of potential lawsuits we’re looking at, it’s going to effect you whether you like it or not.”
Douglas says that under the new law, performers, agents, website operators, retailers and even affiliate sites and trade publications will also be vulnerable, thanks to a loose definition of “financial interest” and a companion “aiding and abetting” clause.
The Producers Meeting will take place today at Xbiz Show, at 1PM, in Studio 4 of the Andaz Hotel.
