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Articles by Greg Piccionelli

opinion

Need for Serious Value in Content

Most adult entertainment business owners know that distributing sexually explicit materials exposes them to the possibility of prosecution for violation of obscenity laws. But while many know that the risk exists, over the years I have found that most distributors of adult content are generally unfamiliar with the obscenity laws themselves and just what constitutes obscenity.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

Romney? Perry? 5 Things to Prepare for

It’s the fall of 2011, and the U.S. unemployment rate is at 9.1 percent and the economy appears too many to be heading back into recession. It is not surprising that President Obama’s approval ratings are in the low 40s and sinking. Because of this many operators of adult entertainment companies are (and frankly should be) beginning to grow concerned about the kind of regulatory environment the industry might face if either of the two current republican frontrunners, Mitt Romney or Rick Perry should become the next occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

The Future of 2257

For several years the adult industry’s legal focus has been on hot button topics like online piracy, and, of course, .XXX. With a Democrat in the White House, adult business owners are understandably less concerned about criminal prosecution than they are about economic survival these days. Because of this, there have been relatively few recent discussions in the industry press about the federal criminal laws known as the 2257 regulations (18 U.S.C. §2257, 18 U.S.C. §2257A and 28 CFR 75 et seq.).

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

10 FAQs About 2257

Lately, the adult industry’s legal focus has been on hot button topics like online piracy, new laws regulating cross sales and, of course, .XXX. Because of this, there have been relatively few recent discussions in the industry press regarding the federal criminal laws known as the “2257 regulations” (18 U.S.C. § 2257, 18 U.S.C. § 2257A and 28 CFR 75 et seq.). This is unfortunate because the 2257 regulations are very much alive and well, especially after recently surviving the first round of a constitutional challenge brought by the Free Speech Coalition in Pennsylvania in which the court granted the government’s motion to dismiss FSC’s lawsuit.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

2257 Performer ID Rules

This article is the third in a series examining the requirements of the federal recordkeeping and labeling laws known as the 2257 regulations as they pertain to current and emerging adult entertainment business models.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

The Morality Dictators: 2

In part one, we began our look at the recent flurry of last-minute legislation passed by Congress. In this conclusion, we'll look at The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 and more.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

The Morality Dictators: 1

Amid the flurry of last-minute legislation passed by Congress just before it wrapped up business and adjourned for the November election campaign recess, two particularly noteworthy events involving our beloved federal Legislature occurred.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

2257 Overload: 2

In part one, we examined the '2257 landscape and the role that religious conservatives played in developing it. In this conclusion, we'll look at the land of the free, aesthetics, softcore problems and more.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

2257 Overload: 1

In June 2005, the adult entertainment industry was on high alert. Throughout the summer, the industry seemingly screeched to a halt to deal with what was rightfully regarded as a looming disaster of the highest magnitude: the issuance of new regulations by the Department of Justice modifying the federal record-keeping and labeling laws set forth at 18 U.S.C. §2257 and 28 CFR Part 75 et seq., aka the "2257 regulations."

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

A '2257 F.A.Q.

While not intending to be a substitute for the face-to-face legal counseling that is now recommended more urgently than ever for anyone who has not previously consulted with a competent adult entertainment attorney regarding 2257, the following are answers to frequently asked questions about the new regulations and the federal record-keeping and labeling laws in general.

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

A Binding Agreement: 2

In part one, we examined some of the basic issues that contracts are designed to address. In this conclusion, we'll look at copyright issues and beyond:

Greg Piccionelli ·
opinion

A Binding Agreement: 1

"Some of the biggest deals in the entertainment business were made with a handshake or negotiated on a cocktail napkin over lunch."

Greg Piccionelli ·