CHICAGO — Flava Works, which operates a string of gay adult websites featuring black and Latino models and performers, has decided to sue more than a dozen of its website members for allegedly posting its videos on BitTorrent sites.
Flava Works on Wednesday filed a copyright suit naming 13 individuals living in the Northeast and South, as well as one in Italy.
All are accused of violating Flava Works terms and conditions as paid members of either CocoDorm.com, Thugboy.com, PapiCock.com, MixItUpBoy.com or RawRods.com, and all have been fingered apparently using tracking technology pinpointing their alleged involvement.
"As a result of defendants’ conduct, third parties were able to download the copyrighted videos, without permission of Flava Works," the suit said.
The defendants named in Flava Works suit filed at U.S. District Court in Chicago are Anton Bonic of Fiorenzuola, Italy; Cormelian Brown of Newark, Del.; Frank Ejikeme of Atlanta; Kywan Fisher of Hampton, Va.; Lloyd Johnson of West Hartford, Conn.; Raymond Levy of Byram, Miss.; Steven Lopez of Bronx, N.Y.; Gregory Nance of Atlanta; Anwar Ogiste of Upper Marlboro, Md.; Andrew Clavio of Ashburn, Va.; Latavius Robinson of Quinc, Fla.; Frank Rossi of New York; and Raymond Smith of Dallas.
The suit seeks an injunction against the defendants, damages and attorneys fees.
Flava Works CEO Phillip Bleicher told XBIZ that his company will go out of its way to fight piracy.
"We have been diligently monitoring the online pirate community for a long time now and we have the means to identify which customers are illegally distributing our products," he said. "The facts are on our side and we won't stop until we take these guys down for their theft."