Serious question regarding porn.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Whilst I do not tend to lend myself to this particular genre, can anybody tell me how the porn industry makes money? I have never seen an "original" film. They are all copies, either VHS or DVD.

Apart from soft-core (i.e Anne Summers) you never get a proper copy with a cover etc.

How does the industry (particulary the producers) make any money, when it appears it is almost entirely made up of pirate copies.

[spainlads]

Pornography is a thriving, financially profitable business: according to a 2004 Reuters article, "The multi-billion-dollar industry releases about 11,000 titles on DVD each year, giving it tremendous power to sway the battle between two groups of studios and technology companies competing to set standards for the next generation"

In the UK R18 film (hardcore) are now available legally in the UK from licensed sex shops.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Sorry that doesn't really answer the question. Even in sex shops, you get copies.

[Mattk]

How does that not answer the question ?

Its pretty obvious to me that they obviously do sell a lot of original copies or they wouldnt be a 'multi-billion dollar industry'.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Have you ever seen an original, with a proper case et al?

I rest my case.

[Mattk]

No,I havent but if I watched or bought that kind of thing,Im sure I would.
I understand exactly what you are trying to say ie that due to the 'under the counter' nature of porn most people copy or downlaod them for free but given tyhe figures posted above their are obviously a lot of people who are happy to purchase this stuff legitimately.

[sarnieken]

Licensed Shops have to pay for the originals then, more than likely, make their own copies. This is illegal and a breach of copyright.
Online sites make millions with subscriptions from web users and have to buy films from the makers.
Despite the fact that just about every porn viewing anyone has ever had will be from your mate's copied video, there are enough people buying the originals for the makers to not worry about going hungry.

Also (and I only know this because of documentaries) the actors dont get much money in the first place. It is a rare industry where the women make more than the men.

[suffragette]

I think you will find Joe_the_Lion that most people do not buy porn in shops anymore, but download films and pay per view sites directly from the Internet. The porn industry in the USA makes as much money, if not more, than Hollywood and is a leader in technological advances in Internet usage.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Thank you for your answers.

Sarnieken, you say the women do not get paid much (but take away the moral aspects) I am sure it is a way above average daily rate for "normal work", no?

[fotografics]

In Germany porn films are available in video rental stores. There are two main "blockbusters" type of chains. Between them they have 15,000 outlets. They each buy between ten and twenty new porn DVDs a week. So, if you make a new prn film (and you're on the buying list) you've sold 15,000 copies immediately. There are also thousands of sex shops in Germany so, when it comes to German smut, the few illegal copies made in the UK aren't worth worrying about.

[andy-hughes]

I would suspect Joe, that you are British?

The rason why you will see so many copies over here is down to cost. You can buy a hard-core film from a licensed sex shop, but it will cost around �35.00, hence the huge amount of copying that goes on.

Elesehwere in the world, the U.S. expecially, countries produce and market their own moves, which are far more freely available, and at a fraction of the cost.

As advised, the adult film industry makes Hollywood look like a corner shop compared to Tesco, and almost all advances in internet technology have been originated by companies who market and distribute pornography.

The industry survives very nicely on legitimate copies of its movies, and the relatively minute loss of income to copying in the UK does not dent its profits significantly.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Mr. Hughes, I am wardy and very, very British.

I thank you for your answers.

[Whickerman]

awright wardy?

On a holiday trip I stopped in Bruges, and found a nice corner shop where i bought 10 original hardcore dvds in original cases for �20. Nice.