This newsletter is sent free of charge to FSC members and supporters. For personal contact, call 1-800-476-7813.

Free Speech X-Press
Delivering Weekly Censorship Updates to the Adult Industry

Acacia has filed similar suits of patent infringement against 47 adult entertainment companies and settled with 30 of them. Last month, it filed complaints against nine cable and satellite companies. Acacia has signed more than 160 licensing agreements with various companies, including the Walt Disney Corporation.
From Tricia Bishop, The Baltimore Sun, 8/10/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/technology/bal-te.bz.patents10aug10,1,1696110.story?
coll=bal-business-headlines
__________________________________________________________

SENTENCING IN FEDERAL OBSCENITY CASE
BILLINGS, MT – In April we reported on the first ever federal obscenity prosecutions in Montana. (See “Two Federal Obscenity Busts in Montana,” X-Press, April 2).  Gary Robinson, who pled guilty in one of the cases, has now been sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release.

LOYAL LISTENERS PROTEST STATION CLOSING
OTTAWA, QUE – An estimated 7,000 radio listeners showed up at a protest on Parliament Hill to demand that the federal government reverse a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to take Quebec city’s number-one radio station, CHOI-FM, off the air. CRTC pulled the plug on the station, after years of warnings, and after repeated complaints that some of its announcers were violating decency standards.
        “It’s a noble cause, saving our radio station,” said Claude Hudon, a truck driver from Levis, Quebec, who listens to CHOI’s controversial “shock jocks” pillory politicians.
        Heritage Minister Lisa Frulla said the CRTC is an independent body, free “of the political pressures, independent of lobby groups,” that judges those who “have the privilege to use the public airwaves.” She said the decision to silence CHOI-FM can be appealed only at the Federal Court.
        Station owner Patrice Demers, who brought a petition carrying more than 200,000 names to present to Parliament, said he intends to file an appeal to the Federal Court later this week.
From Miro Cernetig, The Toronto Star, 8/11/04
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/
Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1092175812181&call_pageid=970599119419
__________________________________________________________

CLUBS PAY SURPRISE VISIT TO COMMISSION
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – Exotic dancers and club owners, along with attorney Luke Lirot, recently showed up at the Pinellas County Commission to complain about ambiguities in an ordinance that does not clearly state how much skin dancers can expose in clubs serving alcohol. The matter was not on the daily agenda, but the adult entertainment group brought it up during the public comment portion of the meeting.
        Pinellas allows complete nudity in clubs that do not serve alcohol. But dancers at the county’s dozen or so topless clubs serving drinks must cover up. They usually wear what they say is the equivalent of a bathing suit. Yet, they testified, they are often unfairly raided by sheriff’s deputies and fined $500 for showing too much. The local code bans “cleavage of the nates of the human buttocks” without specifying what that means. Just walk down the beach, the dancers say, and you can see just as much from women wearing thongs or “booty pants.”
        “At Hooters, when they bend over they are showing nates,” said Jill Lauderdale, a local dancer. “I don’t want to worry about bending over and going to jail because my smiley faces are showing.”
        In the meantime, Luke Lirot has been fighting the ambiguous “nate” issue in court. But he said that the court process has been too slow. That’s why he advised his clients to appeal directly to the commissioners, asking them to clarify the code.
        The result of this tactic? Commission Chairwoman Susan Latvala said the county attorney sees the ordinance as appropriate. However, she wants commissioners to review it and see if they need a clearer definition.
From Michael Sandler, St. Petersburg Times, 8/11/04
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/11/Northpinellas/Exotic_dancers_want_c.shtml
__________________________________________________________

“ECCENTRIC MENACE” VERSUS TOWN
ROSEVILLE, MI – Local artist Edward (Gonzo) Stross has a long history of clashing with town officials. In the latest incident, Stross painted a replica of Michelangelo’s famous “Creation of Man” on the side of his art studio, complete with a topless Eve, just as Michelangelo portrayed her. This violated a 1997 agreement between Stross and the city that he would not paint words, breasts or genitalia on the building. Now Stross must face charges in District Court. If he is found guilty, he could get up to 90 days in jail.
        A partial history: Before “Creation of Man,” Stross spent seven years painting 150 faces, including Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette, for a mural on the side of his building. After he was ticketed in 2003 for loitering while painting the faces, Stross said he decided to cover his mural with pink paint. Later, he created a frowning face with a written protest against the city in black paint. That apparently did not go over too well.
        Roseville Mayor Pro Tem Harold Haugh said Stross is no Michelangelo. Haugh said he is an eccentric menace. “It’s not about art or porn,” Haugh said. “The issue here is that we have a sign ordinance. It’s been a burden to have to deal with him and the problems that he creates.”
        Says Stross: “If I was in Royal Oak or Detroit, I would be just any artist. But in Roseville, I stick out. I encourage artists to come to Roseville to take the pressure off of me.”
From Mary Owen, Detroit Free Press, 8/11/04
http://www.freep.com/news/locmac/artist11e_20040811.htm
 
__________________________________________________________