Is this Legal? Someone pls explain

OompaLoompa · 2005-09-06, 12:22 PM

Hello all.

First a little intro I guess. I've been working on a small mainstream internet site for a while and had questions on server specs, bandwidth, OS, generating traffic... all that sexy stuff. I figured porn was the best market to look at (pun intended) given the high amounts of traffic it generates and how the industry seems to be at the forefront of internet issues / technology. And yes, I also enjoy looking

at porn via the intenet on occasion and after a while just got curious on how all those referrer links translated into cash. I'm not an actual adult webmaster, so forgive me if my understanding of the industry and its terms are used incorrectly.

LLs, TGP, blogs, galleries, usenet groups I can understand. My question involves image servers. This site http://www.imagecash.net is offering individuals the opportunity to upload images and paying for hits. I'm assuming like other image hosts or LLs and TGPS they are planning on making money through advertisements. The only difference is that in the traffic equation I can't see how actual adult sites benefit since there's no direct link to an actual adult site. Yeah, a user might go to the adult site after viewing a few photos, but what are the chances given the amount and type of images one is able to view for free?

By "type" I mean photosets not given out by content providers to adult webmasters. After looking through a few of the photos uploaded there, it didn't seem that the photos were the typical teaser photos on galleries. Some showed enough that it had me wondering if the uploader didn't actually brute-force into a site and snag content at some point. Even if the content was the standard promo stuff, isn't one legally bound to host the material directly?

The only way I see this is as legit is if the actual copyright holders are the ones uploading (yes, there's a copyright req on the site), but it doesn't seem that way.

Can anyone explain this? Thanks.

A curious OompaLoompa

synd · 2005-09-06, 05:33 PM

http://www.imagecash.net realy sucks

nottslad · 2005-09-06, 05:43 PM

I very much doubt the copyright holders are uploading those pics, most will have been stolen from wherever as you suggest. Some of them have site watermarks on them too - other than a surfer seeing the watermark and typing it in directly to their browser there is no way to get to the sponsor site, and their pictures use in this case would almost certainly be forbidden.

I might be missing something here but it looks like they have no paid advertising revenue and are relying on adsense (which is not allowed on sites with adult content anyway). Since adsense is contextual it is delivering ads associated with the text theme which is about money and cash "send money to Cuba" ads etc - not the most enticing link for porn surfers.

My guess is there will be very little paid out. Given a large number of submitters and the, what must be, dreadfully low click through rate for their mistargeted ads I cant see their being much in the pot at the end of the month. If the stated 30% is shared proprotionately between all submitters I expect each one will be earning tenths or hundredths of a cent a month and never make the $20 threshold to reach payout.

Aquarius · 2005-09-06, 11:40 PM

That is illegal for sure. Besides they pay through paypal that would get your account cancelled as soon as PP realize it.

OompaLoompa · 2005-09-08, 07:34 AM

Thanks on replying all.

Good call on Adsense mistargeting keywords. I don't always utilize js when browsing and missed out on that. Based on the forum implemented there the person running it is looking for new ad sponsors, primarily for non-adult photo uploads although the majority of traffic is obviously adult-related.

Don't content providers scour the web looking for copyright infringements? I'm not suggesting legal action against every single individual uploader is feasible, but at the least one could request the image be removed from the site in question. Bah, I'm getting off course in my thinking right now and this post is taking too long.

In short, thanks again all for your responses.

2005-09-06, 12:22 PM	#1
OompaLoompa Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2	Is this Legal? Someone pls explain Hello all. First a little intro I guess. I've been working on a small mainstream internet site for a while and had questions on server specs, bandwidth, OS, generating traffic... all that sexy stuff. I figured porn was the best market to look at (pun intended) given the high amounts of traffic it generates and how the industry seems to be at the forefront of internet issues / technology. And yes, I also enjoy looking at porn via the intenet on occasion and after a while just got curious on how all those referrer links translated into cash. I'm not an actual adult webmaster, so forgive me if my understanding of the industry and its terms are used incorrectly. LLs, TGP, blogs, galleries, usenet groups I can understand. My question involves image servers. This site http://www.imagecash.net is offering individuals the opportunity to upload images and paying for hits. I'm assuming like other image hosts or LLs and TGPS they are planning on making money through advertisements. The only difference is that in the traffic equation I can't see how actual adult sites benefit since there's no direct link to an actual adult site. Yeah, a user might go to the adult site after viewing a few photos, but what are the chances given the amount and type of images one is able to view for free? By "type" I mean photosets not given out by content providers to adult webmasters. After looking through a few of the photos uploaded there, it didn't seem that the photos were the typical teaser photos on galleries. Some showed enough that it had me wondering if the uploader didn't actually brute-force into a site and snag content at some point. Even if the content was the standard promo stuff, isn't one legally bound to host the material directly? The only way I see this is as legit is if the actual copyright holders are the ones uploading (yes, there's a copyright req on the site), but it doesn't seem that way. Can anyone explain this? Thanks. A curious OompaLoompa

2005-09-06, 11:40 PM	#4
Aquarius Hey, can you take the wheel for a second, I have to scratch my self in two places at once Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 182	That is illegal for sure. Besides they pay through paypal that would get your account cancelled as soon as PP realize it. __________________ ICQ: 110-990-327

2005-09-06, 05:33 PM	#2
synd Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 8	http://www.imagecash.net realy sucks

2005-09-06, 05:43 PM	#3
nottslad Lord help me, I'm just not that bright Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mexico Posts: 107	I very much doubt the copyright holders are uploading those pics, most will have been stolen from wherever as you suggest. Some of them have site watermarks on them too - other than a surfer seeing the watermark and typing it in directly to their browser there is no way to get to the sponsor site, and their pictures use in this case would almost certainly be forbidden. I might be missing something here but it looks like they have no paid advertising revenue and are relying on adsense (which is not allowed on sites with adult content anyway). Since adsense is contextual it is delivering ads associated with the text theme which is about money and cash "send money to Cuba" ads etc - not the most enticing link for porn surfers. My guess is there will be very little paid out. Given a large number of submitters and the, what must be, dreadfully low click through rate for their mistargeted ads I cant see their being much in the pot at the end of the month. If the stated 30% is shared proprotionately between all submitters I expect each one will be earning tenths or hundredths of a cent a month and never make the $20 threshold to reach payout.

2005-09-08, 07:34 AM	#5
OompaLoompa Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2	Thanks on replying all. Good call on Adsense mistargeting keywords. I don't always utilize js when browsing and missed out on that. Based on the forum implemented there the person running it is looking for new ad sponsors, primarily for non-adult photo uploads although the majority of traffic is obviously adult-related. Don't content providers scour the web looking for copyright infringements? I'm not suggesting legal action against every single individual uploader is feasible, but at the least one could request the image be removed from the site in question. Bah, I'm getting off course in my thinking right now and this post is taking too long. In short, thanks again all for your responses.