Type Private | Industry Adult Entertainment | |
Founded 1984; 33 years ago (1984)  Products Adult films, brand licensing program including sex toys, condoms, apparel, etc. Similar Playboy Enterprises , Diabolic Video , Falcon Entertainment | ||
Vivid Entertainment Group is an American pornographic film production company, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. It has been estimated to be the top adult entertainment company.
Contents
Overview
In 2006, it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry. It is based in Los Angeles, California. Founder Steven Hirsch is Co-Chairman, along with Bill Asher, who is also a Co-owner.
Vivid Entertainment LLC is privately owned by Americans Steven Hirsch and Bill Asher, and Welshman David James (born Dewi James in Blaengarw, Bridgend). According to Forbes magazine Vivid's annual revenue is estimated to be $100 million USD. The same estimate was given by Business Week in June 2006. However, Vivid also aggressively repackages its original material in compilations, which are relatively inexpensive to produce. Forbes also reported that approximately one third of all the titles sold in U.S. adult DVD stores are Vivid films.
In February 2006, Vivid changed its condom-only policy to a condom-optional policy that lets performers decide whether or not to use them. In October 2010, Vivid stopped production as a precaution when an actor tested positive for HIV. An October 2012 open letter, from Steven Hirsch, took aim at a Los Angeles County plan that would require performers to wear condoms on set. Hirsch said the proposal would be costly and ineffective and was an example of unnecessary government intrusion into private bedrooms.
Divisions and ventures
Legal controversy
On December 6, 2007, Vivid Entertainment filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against PornoTube. The lawsuit alleged that the YouTube-like site profits from the illegal posting of Vivid's copyrighted films, and failed to comply with the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act, a federal age-verification and record-keeping law that applies to the adult film industry. The case was settled out of court.
In April 2010, country singer Mindy McCready sent Vivid a cease and desist letter ordering them not to distribute copies of her sex tape. Vivid produced proof that it had a signed release form from McCready.