Well son of a fucking bitch! Excuse my language folks but I am one pissed off submissive and adult website producer. Due do new and improved (rolling my eyes here) legislation designed to ‘keep children safe’ by forcing primary and secondary (me!) producers of sexually explicit photographs to keep asinine records on the performers in those images, The Dominant’s View is severely reducing the amount of images we keep on the site. At least for the time being as this stupid USA legislation sorts itself out and as TDV tries to sort out some administrative issues that might help us sidestep this bogus piece legislation.

Here’s the plain language version of Bill 2257 as I see it:

Primary and secondary producers of ‘sexually explicit images” now must do the following:
1 – Keep a record of each performer’s LEGAL name, and all other aliases
they use or have used, with a copy of a government issued photo id.

2 - This record must be kept for 7 years.

3 – This record must be contained in a searchable database that can match up EVERY url that is attached to ANY photo that is on the
producer's website.

4 – The names and copy of identification must be given to the secondary producer who will keep the same searchable database for the same images on their website.
(so much for protecting the privacy of the performer)

5 – Each website MUST have an address on the front page of their site that indicates where this database is kept.

6 – This address MUST NOT be a PO box, but a legitimate geographical address where the actual records are kept. (for TDV that means a private home address)

7 – 3rd party addresses are not acceptable

8 – The `office' must be open 20 hours a week during `normal business hours.

9 – This legislation is retroactive to 1995!!!

Give me a fucking a break! Ten years retroactive????

Violations to this bill can result in a 5 year prison term, and additional violations can result in a ten year prison term for each offence! Holy crap!

The personal privacy of all models, and all secondary website owners and content providers is now ignored to help stop child pornography. But how does the repetitive and costly record keeping system stop kiddie porn that usually isn’t shot or hosted in North America? That is the basis for Bill 2257. To help stomp out child porn.

The Free Speech Coalition has struck a deal with the Department of Justice whereby the government will not pursue 2257 record inspections or prosecutions of any of the plaintiffs or their members until 30 days after a hearing on the preliminary injunction, scheduled for August 8 & 9, has been held, or until such time as the Court, if it issues a preliminary injunction against the law, dissolves that injunction. Only members of The Free Speech Coalition and plainfiffs to the application for a Temporary Injunction are protected. The rest of us are still sitting ducks.

Fasten your seatbelts folks, this Bill threatens the privacy of many many people and you are going to see a drastic drop in sexually explicit images (note BDSM images fall directly into that category even if there are no ‘pink’ bits showing) available for your viewing pleasure. We might also see a drastic drop in discussion lists. Group owners, now is a good time to back up your lists.

ACS Blog
Details of the actual definitions of Bill 2257
An overview of what has to be done for primary/secondary providers.
June 23rd Freedom of Speech Coalition Decision on Temporary Injuction

The Dominant's View's Partial Compliance Notice

The Dominant’s View has removed all amateur images from its inception through to Sept 2003 when we had a change of Editor. We are attempting to gather records for material from that date forward. Any recoreds we cannot obtain will result in the removal of those images to attempt to comply with this new and retroactive legislation. Sorry for the inconvenience.

OK – Now that I have that out of my system let me tell you the good stuff! We do have an Amateur Images segment this issue, it’s our last sadly, so it seemed fitting to have Baron Orca, who was the first to be in the Amateur Images segment when I took over TDV. Aside from Baron Orca’s images we actually have lots of images for your enjoyment this month.

In the review section we have event reviews of South East Leather Fest and Shibari Con II with photos from both events. We have a review of Bound and Beyond which is a fetish photography book by New Zealand photographer Ann Nicholas.

On the off chance that he’d have a both the time and interest, I contacted Gord from House of Gord a couple of months ago to see if he’d be interested in an interview for TDV. Much to my surprise and delight he agreed, and he agreed to share some of his images with us as well so don’t miss out on our interview this issue. Gord is a wonderful man with a devious mind and I can’t say enough good things about him.

There are lots of goodies in the Feature Articles department as well. Mistress Constance is back to tell us a little bit about BDSM Leather, TheWolfe gives us his experience in organizing a BDSM event, Jamie Joy Gatto gives some tip to the “Cherry Domina” and Jean Roberta provide a little history on sexuality and oppression in a rant incited by my favourite topic (Bill 2257).

Erotica comes in two flavors this month, outright smut with Moll Saunders continuing store of Bluejay, and something a little softer in my own story Greetings. Our regular columns are all present and accounted for, lots to learn and lots to think about from our fine friends Mistress Marlene, Master Nage, Desmond Ravenstone, Rick Umbaugh and Billy. Their topics cover mentoring and playing with others, blurring the consensuality line, the psychology of sexual preference development, Viagra and mummification. How’s that for a wide and varied set of topics?

And to bring this editorial to a close please don’t forget to stop by the Art Gallery to view the paintings of artist Jaynee Levy-Polis, her work is bright and happy and full of fetishes.

Thank you all for stopping by and reading The Dominant’s View. We all work hard every issue to bring you material to keep you thinking and learning and entertained. Please tell our contributors when you see something you like, we all thrive on feedback and love to hear from you.

Have a grand summer everybody!

Kayla Kuffs
Editor
The Dominant’s View