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Buying Content: Things to Consider
by ConnorYoung
Buying content isnt always as straightforward as it seems. There are a lot of different content stores on the Web some that are reputable and some that are not. Being cautious now will ensure that your content is there for you tomorrow, and might even save you a few legal headaches.
When I started my dive into the adult Web site business back in 1997, I purchased all of my content in bulk from a single content provider. Unfortunately, so did the rest of the world. My content was everywhere, but that really didnt matter back in 1997. It sold, and it sold well. Its not like there were many choices when the Internet was young. Only a few adult content providers were in existence; most of the Webs adult offerings were simply pirated. The content provider that I chose seemed like an excellent deal at the time, but the company proved to be unstable and unorganized. Today almost all the content that I bought between 1997 and 1998 is unusable due to various legal concerns. Since then, I have learned a thing or two about buying content.
First understand that there are a lot of adult content providers on the Internet today. Anyone can set up a content store, but few of these stores will prove to be worth your time. You want a content provider who is stable one that will be there in five years. You want a content provider that is constantly working to provide you with fresh, new content. I dont like to buy from more than a handful of content providers if you buy from too many sources the paperwork becomes a burden. Each content provider will have a different set of rules that you must follow. Buying from only a few sources makes it easy to familiarize yourself with the rules.
Finding a source of adult content thats reliable isnt always easy. If you regularly attend adult conventions like InterNext, then youll start to get an idea quickly of which companies are stable. Some companies have been selling adult content for as long as I have been on the Internet. If a company has a good reputation and has spent a considerable amount of money and effort bolstering that reputation, then theres a good chance that they will be there for you in five years.
Why is that important? Really for several reasons. Imagine you get an email one day from Joe Blows Discount Asian Content offering thousands of Asian pics for a bargain price. You jump on the deal and sign up immediately. Youre sent a very official-looking license along with a CD in the mail. You throw up a site. Two years later you go to buy more Asian content and find that the content provider is long gone. You have no way to locate him. His phone number is disconnected. Now you start to wonder if that content you bought was really his to sell in the first place. Do you continue to offer your now-prosperous Asian sites content to members? Are you violating someones copyrights? Who knows.
You can avoid that scenario by picking a stable, reputable content provider from the start. If a company sends you unsolicited spam, then its a good idea that theyre not especially reputable. Any company that sends you unsolicited email is saying that theyre willing to bend rules in an effort to make themselves more money. How many other rules will they bend? In this business you cant afford to take that risk.
Although this may seem superficial, I often will consider the quality of the content providers Web site design when determining whether or not to buy content from a company. Poor Web site design might mean nothing more than a photographer with mediocre HTML skills, but then again it might mean that youre not dealing with a serious company. If a company spends the time and money to build a professional Web site then theyre probably serious about their success.
The first thing you should ask any content provider prior to making a purchase is where you can find their 18 U.S.C. 2257 compliance statement. Dont settle for some general statement that says our images are compliant with 18 U.S.C. 2257 because without the Custodian of Records information the images are anything but compliant with 2257. Look for a statement that looks something like this:
Date of Production: October 17, 2001
Producer: Joe Blows Content
Custodian of Records:
Joe Blow
263 West Elm Street
SomeCity, CA 90023
If you dont have the name and address of the Custodian of Records beforehand then do not buy the content. Some content providers will go so far as to offer copies of a models identification with the picture sets that you buy. That might provide you some peace of mind, but the legal value is debatable. Just be sure you have the information for the Custodian of Records, and the date on which your content was produced.
Each content provider will have a unique license agreement that will detail the ways in which you are allowed to use any images that you purchase. Most Webmasters breeze right through legal information without so much as a second glance, but youll want to be sure to familiarize yourself with a companys content license agreement before you become a regular customer. Some things to consider. Can you alter the pictures and use them in your sites tour design? Can you create banner ads with the pictures and use those banners on sites not owned by you? Is there a limit in the number of sites owned by you on which the images can be used? What is the duration of the license? Can you use the images in connection with a TGP site? Can you upload any of the images to newsgroups for promotional purposes? Can you add a small URL to the bottom of the images? If one content provider is too restrictive, you can probably find another thats more liberal.
Spend a little time researching content providers before you buy. Know which questions to ask. Once you find a content provider that meets your needs, reward them with your loyalty and continued business.
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