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Expert: Dan Pepper - 6/9/2009


Question
My fiance and I are thinking about starting a blog to market and showcase  our home videos.The site would only have pictures and all videos would be available for purchase at clips4sale.com. Looking at the sign up forum for that website they ask if its a business or personal.If its personal then they have you input your social security number.My question is after signing a contact between the both of us along with proof of age and keeping it in a safe place (custodian  of records) would we still have to get a lawyer?what about permits or business license? We live in California

Answer
If you are filming for your own, personal use, no permit is needed.  However if you are commercializing your videos by selling them, you will need one.  I would strongly advise retaining a lawyer to advise you on the proper way of maintaining and labeling your federal recordkeeping (2257) obligations.  It is a challenging and difficult set of regulations.

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Dan Pepper

Expertise

Lawyer representing adult industry businesses and entertainers, and can answer questions related to:

How to start an adult film business or adult website LEGALLY.

What laws to be concerned about with getting into the adult entertainment industry.

What terms and conditions do you need on your adult website.

How to comply with 18 USC 2257 - the federal record keeping requirements.

What forms and agreements do you need for models and crew.

How to deal with copyright and trademark laws.

Before asking your question, I recommend visiting adultwebsitelawyer.com and requesting a copy of the Top 6 Considerations of Starting an Adult Entertainment Business. You may find your question answered there.

I ALSO DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MALES INTERESTED IN STARRING IN ADULT FILMS.

Experience

I have been practicing law since 1994, and have represented numerous businesses and entertainers in the adult entertainment industry as the managing member of Pepper Law Group, LLC, at adultwebsitelawyer.com. My firm also operates one of the industry's leading 2257 record keeping services for producers of adult content.

Organizations
Free Speech Coalition, Frequent speaker at adult industry events including the Internext Expo and Exxxotica New York; interviewed in AVN Online; regular contributor to XBiz World

Publications
XBiz World AVN Online

Education/Credentials
BA in Political Science, JD (law degree)

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