I got an email today from a porn studio that shall remain nameless, but told me that a model on our site, is using copyrighted images.I hid the models ad, sent him an e-mail and asked him to upload different photos.
This is not a case of the model using someone else's photos. The photos are of him, but the studio took them.
I know it's the model and I know it's him.
Then the studio sent me this e-mail:
IF you can tell "MODELS NAME" that he can't use the names "STUDIOS NAME" or "MODELS NAME" in his profile. We own both the name "STUDIOS NAME" and the character "MODELS NAME" that he played on our site.I thought, "Whoa, this is so Brent Corrigan."
I called my adult industry lawyer friend and asked him if there was ever a decision on the Brent Corrigan case and who does indeed own the models name.
I understand the studios name, that's understandable.
...but the models name, that's his own. Goodness.
While I did ask the model to upload new photos, unless I am specifically asked to do so by my bosses or it's a rule set by a higher power, I don't think that right.
It makes me realize how lucky I am, yet again, to have worked with great studios like Citiboyz who let me use the images and name as I wish.
Heck, it promotes them too.
Now you know I have e-mails like this all the time, "Take down those photos or I am going to sue you." but usually they are from other models who are using another models photos.
...that's just stupid.
Usually, I send an e-mail to the model that someone brought it to our attention and they take them down, knowing they were caught.
Very rarely do I hear, "No, they are using MY photos." or the like.
Usually, if someone knows they did something wrong, merely pointing out out makes them feel responsible and they fix it.
...most often, I even know the model and can vouch for who they are. (...the benefits of knowing the porn stars.)
Plus, we have imaging software that recognizes if a photo is used more than once in any ads.
What's the lesson here? If you want to use photos of someone else on RentBoy.com, for goodness sake, take them from a nobody. You have a much better chance of getting caught. ...and don't be really dumb and use a popular porn stars photo that appears everywhere. To that I say, "You are a dumbass."
There is an even BIGGER PICTURE though to photo perpetrators, there is something out there for everyone. Use your own photos. Trust me, you may even be surprised and get more business.
As for the case at hand above, let's see how it pans out.
