Judges Question Need for Privacy in Porn Copyright Infringement Cases

Judges Question Need for Privacy in Porn Copyright Infringement Cases

CAMDEN, N.J and PHILADELPHIA — Judges in two recent cases involving Strike 3 Holdings have questioned the need for defendants accused of infringing on the copyright of adult titles to be identified by a pseudonym and not by their legal names.

The two decisions concerning Strike 3, the copyright holder for the Vixen Media Group brands, were highlighted today by the influential law blog The Volokh Conspiracy, published by UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh through the Reason magazine website.

While the judges' opinions, issued in June regarding separate cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, questioned the need for pseudonymity of defendants in cases involving adult content, Volokh noted that “as in so many other contexts in which pseudonymity is sought, the cases are badly split” depending on the courts where they are heard.

New Jersey Judge Joel Hillman wrote that “while litigants have an interest in privacy, the public also has a right to obtain information about judicial proceedings” and that the party seeking to seal any part of a judicial record therefore “bears a heavy burden of showing that disclosure of the record will ‘work a clearly defined and serious injury to the party seeking closure.’”

Judge Hillman added that “this court does not have the authority to act as a gatekeeper barring otherwise valid copyright owners access to the courts simply because of the distasteful content of their intellectual property or how it was acquired. Such policy matters on the breadth of copyright protection should be left to the legislative branch in a manner consistent with the Constitutional directive to provide a limited monopoly to the creative industries of society.”

As for the parties' joint application to seal the record, Judge Hillman noted that “if this court were to seal the materials identifying the defendant now upon a joint application of the parties, after the services of this court were used to identify a potential infringer and a settlement reached, it would not be unreasonable for someone to have the impression that some form of extortion is indeed part of the game here and even worse that the court harbors and facilitates it.”

Pennsylvania Judge: Public Access Trumps Privacy

Pennsylvania Judge Gerald Pappert similarly denied a motion to seal the record, noting that after the case he was presiding over “has purportedly settled, Strike 3 now moves on the Defendant's behalf to maintain the pseudonym in the case caption and permanently seal the unredacted documents containing his name, address and other identifying information.”

Although the defendant contended that he might lose his job and/or future employment opportunities because of the allegations in this case, and that his “reputation would be tarnished irreparably” if he were associated with “the alleged copyright infringement of adult content,” the judge ruled that “broad, vague and conclusory allegations of harm” are “insufficient to overcome the presumption of public access.”

Legal World Fascinated by Strike 3 Strategy

As XBIZ reported, Strike 3 was recently featured by leading legal analysis news site Law360 in a profile highlighting the success of the company's IP strategy. Strike 3 has for years been the subject of much fascination in the legal world for not backing down from its lawsuit-heavy strategy, even after previous practitioners have been rebuked by judges.

Strike 3 and its main legal enforcer, attorney Lincoln Bandlaw, have never relented in the practice of pursuing lawsuits against individual content pirates and anonymous file-sharers, even when occasionally sharply criticized by some judges for the legal strategy of subpoenaing ISPs for customer information.

A top legal analytics firm released a report in June confirming that just two adult companies — Strike 3 Media and Malibu Holdings — were responsible for the bulk of all copyright litigation in federal courts between 2018 and 2020.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Aylo Says It Will Comply With UK Age Assurance Requirements

Tech and media company Aylo, which owns various adult properties including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, plans to introduce age assurance methods in the United Kingdom that satisfy government rules under the Online Safety Act, the company has announced.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Approves Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday passed legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

Trial Set for Lawsuit by U Wisconsin Professor Fired Over Adult Content

A trial date of June 22, 2026, has been set for the civil lawsuit filed by veteran communications professor Joe Gow against the University of Wisconsin board of regents, which fired him for creating and appearing in adult content.

New UK Task Force Meets to Target Adult Content

The architect of an influential report that recommended banning adult content deemed “degrading, violent and misogynistic” has convened an “Independent Pornography Review task force” aimed at translating that report’s findings into action in the U.K.

11:11 Creations Launches Affiliate Program

11:11 Creations principal Alicia Silver has launched 11:11 Cash for creators and affiliates.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'Self Love' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers to develop self-love.

Show More