BTW...

50 BIATCH!

How about hiding it prominently, put it into a 2Gig jpg with 2 foot tall letters.

Well then tell me why this would not work? I am actually pretty good in setting up offshore, playing one countries laws against anothers. Just keep the business out of the country you reside. This was put in easy terms, of course its a little more complicated but it works because the Feds will not waste their time on a site that is not hosted nor registered in the US when there are easier fish to fry.
I would say the actual part of protecting yourself is not publishing illegal material on you site. That includes leaving the hardcore for members only. That in addition to outside registering will not get you into any trouble ever.

No. It does not apply to stories. Stories are fiction so there are no real people involved.

Even stories with underage characters are protected under the constitution on the United States, but that does not mean you should publish them.

The case that Aaron mentioned was a case where a guy took a plea bargain, and he had already been convicted of real crimes relating to children in the past. He was not found guilty of anything related to his writing by a jury.

Many mainstream books, including some that are considered classics, include fictional underage characters involved in sexual activity. The U.S. government does not and cannot restrict what you write about in fictional works. You have to decide what you choose to publish, but there is no way the Supreme Court, even the conservative one in place right now, is going to allow restrictions on fiction. If they do that, you might as well give up on free speech in the U.S. altogether.

I have heard of 3 seperate cases. Not referring to one single case.

Either way, you may be right.

andi-germany:

There is something on what you said. 2257 is yet another US law - it has zero relevance to the rest of the world in the instance where you have no hosting or activities in the US.

We have always complied with 2257, but only as a guideline for doing business. I'm afraid any officer of the US DOJ who arrived at our hour office door would be told, nicely at first, to fuck off.

We have no dealings or hosting in the US - this is a deliberate choice - why bother with the US when almost all other countries offer more freedom :-)

Thanks for that reply. I'm still checking into what (if any) documentation I still may need - but much appreciated.

kristy