FlavaWorks Sues 'John Does' for Content Piracy in Federal Court

CHICAGO—FlavaWorks Entertainment on Monday filed a content piracy lawsuit against a class of "John Does" in a federal district court in Illinois. FlavaWorks and its affiliate, Blatino Media, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against 47 Does and a named alleged perpetrator. Based in Chicago, FlavaWorks urges the court to issue a prayer for relief ordering the named defendant and the Does to pay $1.5 million plus attorney's fees and court costs. “This lawsuit marks another strong step forward in our battle against content theft,” FlavaWorks owner Phillip Bleicher told AVN. “We are sending a clear message: those who profit from our work without permission will be held accountable." He added, "We also want to encourage other content creators—particularly within the adult industry—who are facing similar issues to reach out to our office. "Over the years, we’ve gathered extensive evidence of widespread infringement, often impacting many creators beyond just our company. Whether you're interested in joining our ongoing lawsuits or seeking help launching your own legal action, we are here to assist in protecting your copyrighted material." Cases such as this are typically resolved by settlements outside of court. However, the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial.