This industry has always had a very lax view towards pirates. Everyone hates them but few take effective steps to ensure they are kept to a minimum.
How many processors, hosting companies, AVSs, Sponsors asked to see licenses? In fact until approached there attitude is "WTF". Adult check were even telling Perfect 10 it was not their job to monitor the content. The judge felt different.
APIC were nearly brought to their knees by a guy who was harvesting Newsgroups and reselling the pictures, did the 3rd party processor stop processing, the host stop hosting? NO
We sell content and for a lot of people the signing and exchanging of a license to publish pictures is regarded as a chore and to be got out of if possible. The license is not for our protection, we own the pictures and can prove it in an instant. But can the buyer prove it without the license?
So now we reap what we have sown, Visa may have to ask every processor to verify that you own what they are processing money for. How many have the licenses filed?
And when Buush and Ashcroft decide to toughen up 2257, how many have the documentation?
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