18 U.S.C. § 2257 Compliance Statement

Record-Keeping Requirements for Producers of Sexually Explicit Content

Critical Legal Notice

If you upload sexually explicit content to BentBox, you are legally considered a Producer and are solely responsible for compliance with all federal record-keeping requirements under 18 U.S.C. § 2257.

1 Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms of Service and 18 U.S.C. § 2257 compliance, the following legal definitions apply:

Producer

Any person or entity who films, videotapes, photographs, or otherwise creates a visual depiction of actual sexually explicit conduct, and/or any person or entity who produces, assembles, manufactures, publishes, duplicates, reproduces, or reissues a photograph, video, or other matter intended for commercial distribution that contains a visual depiction of actual sexually explicit conduct.

Content

All photos, videos, images, recordings, and other visual media uploaded to, distributed through, or made available on the BentBox platform.

Sexually Explicit Conduct

Means "actual sexually explicit conduct" as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2257(h), which includes depictions of: (i) patently offensive representations or descriptions of ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact, or masturbation; (ii) patently offensive representations or descriptions of lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area; or (iii) the lascivious display of the human body.

2 Producer Responsibilities & Legal Obligations

By uploading Content to BentBox, you acknowledge and accept the following legal responsibilities:

2257 Compliance Requirement Any user who uploads Content containing visual depictions of actual sexually explicit conduct is considered a Producer under federal law and is solely responsible for complying with all requirements of 18 U.S.C. § 2257 and 28 C.F.R. § 75, including the creation and maintenance of individually identifiable records for every performer portrayed in such visual depictions.
Record-Keeping Requirements Producers must create and maintain records that include: (i) the performer's legal name; (ii) any professional names, aliases, maiden names, nicknames, or stage names used by the performer; (iii) the performer's date of birth; (iv) a copy of a valid government-issued photo identification document that confirms the performer's identity and date of birth; and (v) all other information required by 18 U.S.C. § 2257 and implementing regulations.
Age Verification Obligation Producers must verify, by examination of valid identification documents, that every performer was at least 18 years of age at the time the Content was created. This verification must occur before or during the production of the Content and must be properly documented.
Record Location & Disclosure Producers must affix to every copy of the Content a statement describing the location where the records required by 18 U.S.C. § 2257 are maintained. This statement must be in the form and manner prescribed by applicable federal regulations.
Record Maintenance & Availability All required records must be organized alphabetically or numerically by the performer's legal name, maintained for at least seven (7) years from the date of creation of the Content, and be made available for inspection by authorized government officials during regular business hours.
Accuracy & Truthfulness You represent and warrant that all information provided to BentBox, including information related to 2257 compliance, performer identification, and record-keeping locations, is true, accurate, current, and complete. You shall be solely liable for any false, misleading, or incomplete information.

Personal Liability Warning

Failure to comply with 18 U.S.C. § 2257 is a federal crime punishable by fines and imprisonment. You are personally and individually responsible for maintaining all required records. BentBox cannot and does not maintain these records on your behalf.

3 BentBox's Role & Limitations

BentBox provides a marketplace platform that enables users to upload, display, sell, and distribute Content. BentBox's services include hosting infrastructure, transaction processing, content delivery, and marketplace features. However:

No Production Role BentBox does not produce, create, film, photograph, direct, or exercise editorial control over the Content uploaded by users. Users are the sole producers of their Content.
No Compliance Responsibility BentBox is not responsible for ensuring individual user compliance with 18 U.S.C. § 2257 or any other laws governing sexually explicit content. Users are solely and individually responsible for their own legal compliance.
No Record-Keeping on Behalf of Users BentBox does not create, maintain, or store the records required by 18 U.S.C. § 2257 on behalf of Producers. Each Producer must independently maintain their own records.
Content Removal Rights BentBox reserves the right to remove, refuse to display, or restrict access to any Content that BentBox believes, in its sole discretion, may violate 18 U.S.C. § 2257, these Terms of Service, or any applicable laws or regulations.
ProntoID Integration BentBox provides optional integration with ProntoID for identity verification and model release management. While this tool assists with compliance efforts, ultimate legal responsibility for 2257 compliance remains with the Producer.

4 Indemnification & Hold Harmless

By using BentBox and uploading Content, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless BentBox, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, partners, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, and fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising out of or relating to:

Compliance Failures Any failure by you to comply with 18 U.S.C. § 2257, 28 C.F.R. § 75, or any other applicable record-keeping, age verification, or content documentation requirements.
Content Liability Any Content you upload, display, distribute, or make available through BentBox, including claims that such Content violates any law, infringes any intellectual property rights, violates any privacy rights, or contains unlawful material.
Breach of Terms Any breach or violation by you of these Terms of Service, any representations or warranties made by you, or any applicable laws or regulations.
Third-Party Claims Any claims brought by performers, models, or other third parties related to your Content, your record-keeping practices, or your compliance with applicable laws.

5 Account Termination & Law Enforcement Cooperation

BentBox takes compliance with federal law seriously and will take appropriate action against users who violate these requirements:

Immediate Termination Rights BentBox reserves the right to immediately suspend or permanently terminate the account of any user who violates these Terms of Service, fails to comply with 18 U.S.C. § 2257, uploads illegal content, or engages in any unlawful activity.
Law Enforcement Reporting BentBox will promptly report suspected violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2257 or other federal laws to appropriate law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice, and local authorities.
Cooperation with Investigations BentBox will fully cooperate with any government investigations or inspections, including providing user information, account data, Content metadata, transaction records, and any other information requested by authorized officials.
No Refunds for Violations Users whose accounts are terminated for violations of these Terms or applicable laws will not be entitled to any refunds of fees paid or any pending payouts.

6 Additional Compliance Resources

BentBox encourages all Producers to educate themselves about their legal obligations. The following resources may be helpful:

Federal Statute: 18 U.S.C. § 2257 - Record-keeping requirements for producers of certain sexually explicit material
Federal Regulations: 28 C.F.R. Part 75 - Regulation implementing 18 U.S.C. § 2257
Department of Justice: Visit the DOJ website for official guidance on compliance requirements and record-keeping obligations
Legal Counsel: Consult with an attorney experienced in adult content law to ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
ProntoID: BentBox integrates with ProntoID for streamlined identity verification and model release management. Access ProntoID through your account settings.

Questions About Compliance?

While BentBox cannot provide legal advice, our support team can assist with platform features and technical questions related to compliance tools.

Contact Support Team

Final Notice

By using BentBox and uploading Content, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with this 2257 Statement and all applicable federal record-keeping requirements. You accept full personal responsibility for legal compliance and understand the serious criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance.