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... and finally this:
the revisions and "administrative rule clarifications" of USC 18 section 2256 and 2257 are significant parts of your business. They have repercussions for you and your business that can greatly affect your life, not just you bank account. You could spend up to 10 years in a federal butt slammin' prison. You could end up with all of your assets, business and person, seized as evidence and locked up for years before you see the end of it.
You could be labeled as a CP provider, even if you think all your models are over 18. Think of the headline "Bob can't prove model age, feds shut down site" followed by a nice article about how it is likely some of your models were underage or using fake ID, or how you might helped them with fake ID, etc.
There is some potential you could become a registered sex offender.
Consult a lawyer, one that is versed in 2257 and the adult industry. Don't trust the lawyer down the street unless they have spent time on the subject. There is 15 years of history in this law, it isn't something you can pickup overnight and understand. Don't base your business on "software solutions" or "offshore hideouts" that people are offering without first getting a good and vlaid legal opinion about what it all means.
For individual webmasters, cam girls, and others... sorry, but in plain terms, sucks to be you right now. You are left with a few very poor choices, most of which involve revealing your home address, full name, and other materials to the public at large. I know that for many of you, this represents a hardship so high, that you are likely to leave the business or completely change the way you do business, which in the end will remove either the fun and/or profit you have been making in the past. The government is saying to you "either in the pool or out of the pool, no just dipping your toe in the water". For that, I am truly sorry, and I am sad for you.
I am sad that I am already getting emails, PMs, and ICQs from people either selling sites or telling me that stuff will go 404. Upheaval is not good for business, and people are getting hurt. It sucks in a most major way.
Chatboards, discussion groups, and such are a great way to share the pain and share the results of discussions with lawyers and others. But at the end of the day, the only sound (and bankable) advice will come straight from a lawyer, not anyone posting on a board. While I am confident that I understand the new 2257 rules fairly well, my answers are all IMHO stuff and not something to make your business decisions from. this is a great place to share so much, but your decisions must be based on facts, not rumors.
Careful out there!
Alex
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