The proliferation of pirated ‘free’ porn has saturated the Internet, creating a lower perceived value of adult content with less income for studios — this makes running a sustainable business difficult, especially for new directors who might not yet have a loyal audience base.

Here’s a few ways to prevent piracy and protect your work:

1. Make it as easy as possible to pay for porn. This means everything from making sure you’re promoting your films (with working links!) to offering your content on a variety of platforms. The easier it is to purchase, the less invested someone will be to seek it out for free. If you want to make your work accessible to folks with low income, consider offering a trade in exchange for volunteer work. (Industry secret: reviewing porn is a great way to get free access, and provide helpful promotion for filmmakers. But remember, the best way to support your favorite pornographer is with your wallet.)
2. Make it as hard as possible to rip your movies. If possible, avoid downloads and DVDs in favor of streaming content. (If you’re wondering why PinkLabel has a permanent streaming library instead of digital downloads, this is why! We strive to protect our studios against piracy.)
3. Seek out pirated copies of your work. Create Google Alerts with your name and film title, and periodically browse tube sites. You can also try searching for your own films using other search engines, and utilize image and video searches, including words like ‘free,’ ‘tube,’ and ‘download.’ Torrent sites are less damaging than tube sites where the majority of people seek free porn. (Be careful of malware!)
4. Issue takedowns. When you find your work pirated, report the URL to your attorney. If you don’t have a lawyer, you can use a DMCA template to request your content be removed. (The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a US copyright law that protects intellectual property.) You can find the owner or contact information in the footer of the site, or otherwise by using a Who Is look-up.  Some companies like TakeDownPiracy also provide this service. (A tip: PinkLabel filmmaker Nikki Silver (NaughtyNatural) shares that it can help to hire a friend to look for your pirated work as it can be emotionally upsetting. Great advice!)
5. #PayForYourPorn! Participate with the online campaign and educate your viewers about the damaging nature of piracy for producers and performers. Encourage the promotion of affiliate links for your cast and crew, so that everyone prospers from each sale.

Have more tips? Leave a comment below.

Photo credit: CrashPad’s Guide to Fisting