Here's What's Wrong With The FSC. Truth Time.
 

I'm in the mood to bitch. So here it is. I'm gonna turn off the yellow so you don't all go blind.

Edit: This ended up being really long don't bother reading it.

Ok, I've raised over $14,000 for the FSC in the past, because I believed in its stated mission, and because quite frankly it's the only organization that this industry has.

However, it's a clusterfuck. I thought for a while that was due to the changing of executive directors, but now that the new one's been in place for a while, it's still a cluster fuck.

1. Where's all the money going? How much has been raise? What's the yearly budget? How many members are there? How much are attorneys charging us to fight 2257? How much has been spent on 2257 altogether so far?

It apparently refuses to release financials, or at least I've never spoken to anyone that's seen them. Why? I'll tell you some possible explanations I've heard. According to at least one employee, they've had serious money problems and they don't want anyone to know about it. I heard some time ago from one of them that things were so bad, that they were dipping into payroll funds to put toward the 2257 fight and employees weren't even sure if they were still going to have jobs or not.

I suspect the other reason why is that we'd all blow a goat if we knew exactly how much money some of these attorneys have banked so far.

I have no idea what I've heard is fact and what isn't. That, to me, says more about the lack of information flowing from the organization than anything else.

2. They suck shitty ass at communicating with their members. Hell, even I, who has raised a ton of cash for them, can't even manage to get a ballot sent to me come "election time", and despite the fact that I've updated my name and address and phone number with them no fewer than 4 times, they STILL have it all wrong from a "data entry mix-up" they made over a year ago.

Their press releases are never timely, and there's never any follow through.
They suck at communicating on the boards (where 99% of their members get their industry new from), to the point where they're bragging that they made a total of 30 posts regarding 2257 since the new proposed regs took effect.

WOW THIRTY WHOLE POSTS JESUS CHRIST SON OF A WHORE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF WORK!

I can fart out more than 30 posts in 10 minutes that are of more substance.

3. Their membership "subscription levels" are gayer than I am and are about as intuitive as performing cunnilingus.

4. I haven't even been able to pay my dues this year assuming I'm suppose to yet (because I have any idea when the hell they're even due), and my 3 separate emails to find out when they are due and how much I owe this year were of course ignored. Did the FSC outsource to Epassporte's Customer Service department?

5. They have a total lack of focus. They can apparently barely afford to keep the 2257 lawsuits going, and have not had any success with the fight, yet they're now starting to sing the battle hymn against piracy?

Get real.

This isn't like the RIAA or the MPAA where there are only a handful of studios that exist that can all come together to kick pirates' ass (and you see how unsuccessful even they've been). There are THOUSANDS of producers in this industry. If someone steals exclusive content from my little program is the FSC going to go running out to sue the thiefs into oblivion? I think not.

I'm willing to bet this entire initiative would be nothing but a way for a handful of huge dvd producers to save themselves a shitload in legal fees by having all of us pay for their anti-piracy efforts through the guise of an "FSC Initiative". I can smell that a mile a way.

blah I could keep going but I'm tired of typing.
I just wish they'd get their shit in order. The industry needs them.

BoyAlley,

As I am not the ED, I'd suggest that you contact [email protected] concerning FSC financial and your contact information.

Since Tom left for XBiz, we have not had a full-time staff communications person. I have done what I can on GFY, personally; but, I'm have other business interests and family that take away my time from GFY. I apologize and will try to make more comments in the future.

Please feel free to send any suggestions to the FSC offices as they will be appreciated.

Again, I will pass this on to Diane, the ED, as I believe it is a rather common problem. I suggest you contact [email protected] with your concerns regarding membership renewals.


Right now, as I understand the situation, the 2257 litigation is temporarily on hold, more or less, awaiting the next move by the DOJ, i.e. the release of the post-comment, revised regulations.

Until the new regs are posted, we don't know how we will be affected as an industry, what particular regs we will challenge, or where the best venue will be for the challenge. Our current challenge is to get the 2257 proposed regs comments of the membership to the DOJ in the next two days. The comments will have an effect on the final regs. The more support our position has in the industry, the more likely we will see favorable regs AND IT IS VERY MUCH A NUMBERS GAME WHEN IT INDICATES INDUSTRY SUPPORT FOR A POSITION.

The FSC information on posting comments is:
http://www.freespeechcoalition.com


There seemed to be quite a few internet adult content producers at the Roundtable who were concerned with theft of their content. I'd say the problem is industry wide, excepting toymakers of course....

As I understand the situation, the FSC will be providing support for the adult content producer's group that was formed at the Roundtable last week.

Any litigation must be initiated by the content producers who's IPR have been violated. Accordingly, FSC's role will be one of research, support, organization, and coordination between the interests when such activities are requested.

In my opinion, the FSC should continue to endeavor change in the laws that adversely affect our industry as a whole such as the overbroad safe harbor provision of the DMCA, Utah/Michigan email registry, XXX-tld and 2257.

I believe that the FSC and Content Producers should co-ordinate their efforts in both legislation and litigation to maximize the industry's effectiveness dealing with this content theft problem.

I appreciate your support and accept your criticism.

Redrob's response reminded me of when Aly worked at AVN and she had to constantly clean up their messes

I hope the FSC can become more effective. Maybe I will donate some money this year. We'll see.

While I have no issues with Red Rob...dont even know If I know him or not I have HUGE issues with the FSC.

The original poster hit the nail on the head.

The FSC is and always has been very top heavy, especially salary wise, I remember when former director Kat Sunlove used to bilk them for 70K a year for a part time position and the FSC paid her bhloated expense reports that included daily ten dollar tips for the maid and other such nonsense.

I have said it before and I will say it again, the name has become synonymous with ineptitude, waste and foolishness, they havent accomplished 3 things in 5 years that they can honestly point to.

Its time to dissolve it and start over with honest people at the helm

why are you so surprised? the FSC is run by a couple of porn people. what did you really expect?

The FSC chairman (?) at the round-table offered that anyone could stop by the offices on any given weekday, and there would be no problem in the FSC's books being opened to them... I offer that preparing a brief in the form of a newsletter - regarding the FSC financials - and sharing it with the members of the organization - even once if not on a regular basis - might be a good step in restoring any lost faith in the FSC.

As an observer, every time there's any negative light shed on the FSC, the issue of accountability - or more specifically, the _lack_ of accountability - is always something that comes up.


That said, protecting our industry from undue persecution is a lot different of a fight than other matters that require different people making different decisions. I hope that the truly FSC respects that ideal, and will continue supporting the industry in any way it's able.

We cant blame Redrob but I think he should bring some of these things back to Diane to look at seriously.Not just write it off as those fucked up gfy people.

the only thing that was agreed in the round table meeting, since the issue was forced on the meeting, was sid grief can be a "liason" to the content producers group, whatever that may be. that means that the fsc is NOT part of the content producers group, but that being that the content producers are interested in being "allies" to anyone against piracy, an open LINE OF COMMUNICATION should remain established between the two associations. "support" does not mean that fsc will be running or influencing anything over on the content producer side. lets keep it real folks. i'm going back to my weekend.

where did anyone blame RedRob you all, I never said that

I said his response was almost the exact type of response that Aly used to give when dealing with people that hated AVN

meaning that by posting on here and representing the FSC he is going to end up taking the majority of the hits, even though it is not his/her fault

I didn't say any of what you suggested and I dont' know where you got that from

He didn't suggest anything. It seemed as though he was reiterating that his comments were directed at the FSC and not at RedRob.

Ya Jace I wasnt saying you did but of all the criticisms of the FSC mine have been the sharpest and I dont want redrob to feel as though they are directed at him personally.

I have been through this with Mark kernes a few times, Kernes take criticism of the FSC very personal, truth is I like Kernes and I respect his ability to verbally match wits with me...even when he is wrong.

I thin the biggest mistake the FSC made was in its initial 2257 filing granting protection only to FSC members...they will come back and tell you that you have to be a party to the lawsuit to have protection and thats true....however they filed specifically so as to make only their members a party instead of the industry et el.

Whether this was just incompetence on their part or planned to boost membership I think the short term gains did more long term harm than good.

The biggest problem with the FSC is and always has been the lack of accountability but its more than just that, they can't point to a single thing that they have done with pride and say hey look what we did here!

They cant tell us what they are doing because in essence they aren't doing anything other than being a jobs program for people who couldnt get a job anyplace else.

They like to beat their chest about their lobbying days in sacramento but they cant point to one iota of legislation they sponsored or really anything tangible that they have accomplished there.

If everyone on gfy got together and said south yer our boy we are going to join the FSC and make you executive director or whatever the first thing I would do is disband it, and I wouldn't collect a dime of salary for it.

I would then turn it over to someone who could rebirth it into what it should be.

we wont be renewing our membership thats for sure.

any organization that will not disclose their finacials or even reply to our inquiries will not be supported by us.

fuck the FSC, they are a scam

I did not even know that he worked for them.

Things the FSC has done with pride:

In 2002, FSC views were upheld in the US Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, the so-called VIRTUAL CHILD PORN case, which has been described by no less than the ACLU as "the most important victory for the First Amendment in decades."

March 30, 2007 - In a decision made Friday March 30th at the ICANN board meeting, the board voted 9 to 5 to reject ICM's proposal for a .XXX top level domain. This appears to be the final decision by ICANN as Board Chair Vinton Cerf said that they would not consider another proposal for a .XXX top level domain. FSC's ED, Diane, and Chairman, Jeffrey Dougals, performed miracles in Lisbon representing the industry and solidifying opposition.

Over the past three years, the FSC has organized and funded the 2257 litigation which will continue for the forseeable future. Even though there has been no clear victory for the industry, we are still in business, and, for many, business is good.

It has been stated on here repeatedly that the content producers want nothing to do with the FSC for any of the above roles. The FSC smelled the money, as content piracy is the new cause du jour, and did whatever they could to interject themselves into the fray so they had another cause to drum up donations for. Unbelievable...

HUh???? Whats this all about? To much to read fuck this...

According to the FSC bylaws, the Board members are not allowed to profit from their relationship with the FSC. When we meet in California for our meetings, the Board members fly to LA at their own expense, pay for their own meals and hotel rooms, and are not compensated in any way. Mark Kernes is a Board member and, as such, is not paid by the FSC.

"The biggest problem with the FSC is and always has been the lack of accountability but its more than just that, they can't point to a single thing that they have done with pride and say hey look what we did here!" - Mike South

Wrong... DOn't let the hatred blind you.

FSC fought XXX ferociously and saved the internet segment numerous times in regards to 2257.
Not bad for an organisation that basically gets hardly any donations from you dead beats and haters.

Have soem class and at least acknowledge they done something important for us all.

Profits of Doom,
FSC is not part of the Content Producer's Group.
The FSC has not solicited donations to fight content theft.
Where do you get your information? I'd like to read it.

Good fucking questions.

You just stated that you were taking a role in the content producers group. In addition, there was a press release on here a week or so ago saying that the FSC is going to get involved in the anti-piracy fight. So you mean to tell me the FSC is getting involved in the anti-piracy fight and won't be soliciting donations for it?

i suppose it is a clusterfuck

I will see if I can get you some answers to BoyAlley's questions and start a thread when I receive them.

I am a member and it seems to me, the only time I get any communication from them, is just prior to the renewal of my membership:2 cents:

Note: "....when such activities are requested." nothing more.

God you guys are too easy according to your site you were founded in 1993 and this is all you can point to? A case that made virtual child pornography legal...

next you cite that you didnt' support .XXX well y'all didnt do much to stop it either and that was a close vote and by some accounts the reason why Bill Lyon was ousted a good portion of the FSC WANTED that money and you know. So congrats for finally doing what you SHOULD have done all along. Nice try but it dont wash.

Your performance on 2257 is abyssmal at best thus far, I certainly wouldnt crow about that.

So this is all you can come up with in almost 20 years of existance?

PLEASE....

The FSC's news release predates the formation of the Content Producer's Roundtable.

I am just to act as a laison, accordingly, I am only a resource and have no vote in any proceedings.

Moreover, as of this time, I know of no plans to solicit donations for the anti-piracy fight.

The press release did not say that the FSC was initiating litigation, raising donations, or doing anything else other than trying to get a handle on the issue.

double post

I am saying that nobody has raised the question of soliciting donations and, accordingly, no decision has been made regarding the issue.

It is obvious to everyone that is the next step. The FSC is forming an anti-piracy task force. According to Airek you forced yourself onto the roundtable meeting. The next logical step is the FSC will start their own group and solicit donations for it.

Any questions concerning soliciting donations is pure conjecture.

What is Diane's salary at the FSC Im no longer a member so I have no right to ask but BoyAlley and others...have at it

Lets see if we are getting our moneys worth

and BTW salary includes bonuses, consulting fees yada yada I wana know how much money the FSC paid for her last year see if yall think you are gettng your moneys worth...I know what Kat Sunlove made and I know what Bill Lyon (who wasnt the demon the FSC painted him as) made.

Well, I've been a FSC member and contributor since 1996, and at one point I had over 20 stores that were members. I'm pretty familiar with how the FSC operates and what the next step is...

double post

why did it do that

Where is this tidbit of information?

Mike,
Since Diane didn't work at the FSC last year, what was her salary??