Kink.com explained

Kink.com
Location:San Francisco, California, U.S.
Key People:Peter Acworth
Industry:Internet pornography
Website:Official website

Kink.com is an independent San Francisco-based bondage internet pornography company that runs a group of websites devoted to BDSM and related fetishes. Kink.com, along with Kink Studios, LLC, Hogtied.com and Behindkink.com are DBAs for Cybernet Entertainment LLC, the parent company that operates the studio.[1]

In March 2018, Alison Boden, the former VP of Technology, became the new CEO of Kink.com.[2] She helmed the company until founder Peter Acworth returned in 2021.[3]

Origin

Kink.com was started by UK native Peter Acworth in 1997 while he was a doctoral candidate in finance at Columbia University. After reading a story in a British tabloid about a fireman who made £250,000 in a short period by starting an Internet pornography website, Acworth decided to start a pornographic web site of his own. Since Acworth had what he described as a lifelong interest in bondage, he oriented the site toward BDSM pornography.[4] The site was called Hogtied.com and initially featured content that was licensed from other primary producers. The site was successful and was soon grossing several thousand dollars per day. Acworth left his graduate studies to work on the site full-time.[4]

In 1998, Acworth moved the company from New York City to San Francisco.[4] Finding that sales were leveling off because other sites were using the same content, Acworth began producing his own material, initially featuring himself with various models whom he found through Craigslist or through his photographer friends.[4] [5] He opened the company's second site, Fucking Machines, in 2000,[6] and has since opened 26 additional subscription Web sites.[7] Several Web sites under the Kink.com umbrella feature directors who relocated following the demise of Insex as a result of US government pressure in 2005, but offer more of a focus on consensuality than Insex was known for.

Acquisition of the San Francisco Armory

In late 2006, Kink.com purchased the San Francisco Armory for $14.5 million, for use as a production studio. A group known as the Mission Armory Community Collective formed to oppose Kink.com's use of the building and in early February 2007 held a public protest in front of the building.[8]

At one point, there were plans to demolish part of the building to make way for a condominium development. Such news brought in supporters who welcomed Kink.com's preservation of the historic building as part of an overall attempt to revitalize and bring back business to the area, without altering the appearance of the historic building.[9]

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom also expressed concern over the Kink.com purchase, and scheduled a special meeting of the San Francisco Planning Commission in March 2007 to review the company's use of the building. The meeting was well-attended by both supporters and opponents of the Kink.com purchase. One opponent, anti-pornography campaigner Melissa Farley compared the images produced by Kink.com to images of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, and testified against the purchase.[9] [10]

The Planning Commission ruled that Kink.com was not in violation of any law or zoning requirement.[11] [12] [13]

Although Kink.com has stated that its activities would be invisible to the surrounding neighborhood, La Casa de las Madres, a neighboring women's shelter, announced that they would be leaving the location because of the media scrutiny of Kink.com's presence.[14] In addition to utilizing the Armory for its own productions, Kink.com also rents space in the historic building to local independent filmmakers to use as locations in non-pornographic narrative films and videos.

By 2013, Kink.com was converting rooms at the Armory into webcam studios that independent webcam models could rent.[15] In January 2017, Kink.com announced that it would cease to use the Armory for film production.[16]

In 2018, Acworth sold the Armory for $65 million.[17]

Specialty web sites

In 2007, the company's web site Fucking Machines was involved in a trademark dispute when the United States Patent and Trademark Office refused to grant a trademark for the name of the site, asserting that it was obscene.[18] Also in 2007, the company began streaming regular live shows, in part as a defense against copyright infringement.[19] By 2008, live shows were being streamed by Device Bondage, a Kink.com bondage site,[20] and erotic wrestling site Ultimate Surrender began streaming its competitive matches live in 2008.[21]

In 2008, the company added on-demand technology to its web sites, selling updates to their websites on a per-episode basis rather than strictly by subscription.[22] This system recently began adding third-party content, including that from Germany's Marquis.[23]

Also in 2008, the company launched a site called Bound Gods, a gay bondage site directed by Van Darkholme (also the director of Naked Kombat). Bound Gods was launched under a new gay-focused division, KinkMen.com.[24]

In 2014, the company announced that it was stopping production on its "wildly popular" Public Disgrace and Bound in Public sites, and changing Hardcore Gangbangs to make it more explicitly the fantasy of the female participant. Kink announced that it was increasing educational efforts, with the aim of "demystifying alternative sexualities" and would be welcoming the public into The Armory. It wished to turn Kink.com into a lifestyle brand à la Playboy.[25]

As of 2022, their main network has over 90 channels, 27 are Kink exclusives from nine studios, making it the largest fetish network to date.[26]

In October 2022, Kink launched KinkMen as its own, exclusive paysite within the Kink network, bringing in performers from across the male kink and fetish sphere, and featuring directors such as Dominic Pacifico and Micah Martinez.[27]

Documentary

In 2013 Kink, a documentary, was made about the company.

Award nominations

Awards

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kink's Acworth Responds to AHF's Nevada OSHA Complaint Kink owner says the AHF complaint is "baseless" and meant to be a distraction from the Foundations many other problems.. Staff. AVN.com. Adult Video News. 7 August 2014. August 10, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140810011524/http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Kink-s-Acworth-Responds-to-AHF-s-Nevada-OSHA-Complaint-568829.html. live.
  2. News: Evangelista . Benny . Sex site Kink's new CEO moves ahead, unchained from past . 12 January 2022 . San Francisco Chronicle . 9 May 2018 . January 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112234226/https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Sex-site-Kink-s-new-CEO-moves-ahead-unchained-12902636.php . live .
  3. News: Adams . JC . Kink.com Founder Peter Acworth Returns as CEO . 12 January 2022 . XBIZ . 24 September 2021 . January 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112234228/https://www.xbiz.com/news/261908/kink-com-founder-peter-acworth-returns-as-ceo . live .
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/magazine/29kink.t.html "A Disciplined Business"
  5. http://www.7x7sf.com/people/profiles/3545792.html "The New Pornographers"
  6. http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-07-16/columns/the-man-behind-the-fucking-machine/ " The Man Behind the Fucking Machines"
  7. http://news.behindkink.com/blog/default/2008/02/01/Kink-com-Celebrates-its-10-year-Anniversary "Kink.com Celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary"
  8. http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_d=3027&catid=4 "Kink hearing: The pornographer's purchase of the Armory faces more roadblocks"
  9. http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=20&clip_id=3256 "San Francisco Planning Commission - Special Public Hearing"
  10. http://prostitutionresearch.com/pre_blog/2007/10/22/kinkcom_in_san_francisco_women/ "Kink.Com in San Francisco: Women and Gay Men's Abu Ghraib"
  11. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/26/BAG5RNPKIV1.DTL No welcome mat for adult film studio"
  12. http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1648 "Planning Commission hears Kink.com case"
  13. News: Ex-armory turns into porn site. San Francisco Chronicle. 2007-01-13. Steve. Rubenstein. November 6, 2007. November 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111115113142/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F01%2F13%2FBAG0INI8PD1.DTL. live.
  14. http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/03/26/story12.html "Service organization flees from kinky Mission neighbor"
  15. News: Richtel. Matt. Intimacy on the Web, With a Crowd. 29 January 2018. New York Times. 21 September 2013. May 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210509141435/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/technology/intimacy-on-the-web-with-a-crowd.html. live.
  16. News: Kink.com To Stop Filming In Its Controversial Porn Dungeon. 2017-01-17. Vocativ. en-US. 2017-01-21. January 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170120144606/http://www.vocativ.com/393536/kink-to-stop-filming-in-its-famous-porn-dungeon/. dead.
  17. Web site: 2018-02-08. SF Armory sells for $65 million - to be used for manufacturing and offices. 2020-10-01. SFChronicle.com. en-US. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028073451/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-Armory-sells-for-65-million-to-be-used-12560076.php. live.
  18. Web site: THE F BOMB. Jeffrey C. Billman. 2007-06-07. Orlando Weekly. 2008-09-09. April 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071952/http://www2.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=11596. live.
  19. http://news.cnet.com/2100-1026_3-6172180.html "At Kink.com, A Live Tool Against Piracy"
  20. Web site: Trina Michaels to Appear Live on DeviceBondage.com . XBiz . August 14, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120923154912/http://www.xbiz.com/news/news_piece.php?id=97914 . September 23, 2012 . November 15, 2017 .
  21. http://avn.com/internet/articles/31837.html "Ultimate Surrender Streams 3 Matches Live"
  22. http://www.avn.com/internet/articles/31643.html "Kink.com Launches Kink On Demand"
  23. http://avn.com/internet/articles/31860.html "Kink.com Partners With Germany's Marquis"
  24. News: Kink.com Launches First Gay Bondage Site. Adult Video News. 4 August 2008. 26 January 2018. January 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185315/https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/kink-com-launches-first-gay-bondage-site-54040.html. live.
  25. Web site: Tracy. Clark-Flory. From gang bangs to glam: How Kink.com is remaking itself as a lifestyle brand. Salon. 22 October 2014. October 29, 2014. October 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141030031714/http://www.salon.com/2014/10/21/from_gang_bangs_to_glam_how_kink_com_is_remaking_itself_as_a_lifestyle_brand/. live.
  26. Web site: History of Kink.com. Discountedporn.com. Oct 4, 2022.
  27. Web site: Smithberg . Allen . Kink.com Launches KinkMen as Standalone Paysite . 2022-10-06 . AVN . October 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221006060120/https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/kink-com-launches-kinkmen-as-standalone-paysite-910457.html . live .
  28. http://avnawards.com/pdf/2009_AVN_NOMINATIONS_11_25_08.pdf "Complete 2009 AVN Awards Nominee List"
  29. http://www.xbiz.com/news/115720 XBIZ Announces Finalist Nominees for 2010 XBIZ Awards
  30. Web site: XBIZ Awards - Past Winners. XBIZ Awards. 17 October 2018. May 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180505184116/http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners2009.php. live.
  31. AVN Announces the Winners of the 2011 AVN Awards. AVN. 25 May 2011. January 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110110172712/http://business.avn.com/articles/video/AVN-Announces-the-Winners-of-the-2011-AVN-Awards-421782.html. live.
  32. Web site: XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles. XBIZ Awards. en. 2018-10-17. August 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200802070510/https://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners2012.php. live.
  33. Web site: XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles. XBIZ Awards. en. 2018-10-17. June 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616154141/http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners2013.php. live.
  34. Web site: The 2013 AVN Award Winners! AVN. AVN. Robert Neuwave. AVN. 2018-10-17. March 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170329050317/https://avn.com/business/articles/video/the-2013-avn-award-winners-503520.html. live.
  35. AVN Announces the Winners of the 2014 AVN Awards. 2014-01-19. AVN Staff. 2014-01-19. AVN. February 1, 2016. https://archive.today/20160201103626/http://business.avn.com/articles/video/AVN-Announces-the-Winners-of-the-2014-AVN-Awards-544448.html. live.
  36. Web site: XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles. XBIZ Awards. en. 2018-10-17. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028074352/https://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners2014.php. live.
  37. http://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners.php XBIZ Award Winners
  38. Web site: CyberSocketWebAwards. www.cybersocketwebawards.com. 2018-10-17. September 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190910054653/http://www.cybersocketwebawards.com/past_015.php. live.
  39. Web site: XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles. XBIZ Awards. en. 2018-10-17. May 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190528164512/https://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners2016.php. live.
  40. Web site: CyberSocketWebAwards. www.cybersocketwebawards.com. 2018-10-17. June 25, 2018. https://archive.today/20180625153504/http://www.cybersocketwebawards.com/past_016.php. live.
  41. News: The TEA Show 2016 Winners - The TEA Show. The TEA Show. 2018-10-17. en-US. October 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023025911/http://www.theteashow.com/2016-winners/. dead.
  42. Web site: AVN Announces the Winners of the 2016 AVN Awards AVN. AVN. Sharan Street. AVN. 2018-10-17. August 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160809212943/http://avn.com/business/articles/video/AVN-Announces-the-Winners-of-the-2016-AVN-Awards-620416.html. live.
  43. Web site: 2017 AVN Award Winners Announced . Allen . Smithberg . January 21, 2017 . AVN . September 30, 2018 . January 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170126055559/https://avn.com/business/articles/video/2017-avn-award-winners-announced-712151.html . live .
  44. Web site: XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles. XBIZ Awards. en. 2018-10-17. June 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182126/https://xbizawards.xbiz.com/winners2017.php. live.
  45. News: 2017 TEA Winners - The TEA Show. The TEA Show. 2018-10-17. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180623165844/http://www.theteashow.com/2017-tea-winners/. 2018-06-23. dead.
  46. Web site: Storerotica Awards 2017. StorErotica Magazine. en-US. 2018-10-17. October 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181027211548/http://storerotica.com/awards/2017-awards. dead.
  47. News: Adultex 2017 Wraps, Award Winners Announced. XBIZ. XBIZ. 2018-10-17. en. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028074351/https://www.xbiz.com/news/219389/adultex-2017-wraps-award-winners-announced. live.
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  49. Web site: Storerotica Awards 2018. StorErotica Magazine. en-US. 2018-10-17. November 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181115185715/http://storerotica.com/awards/2018-awards. dead.
  50. Web site: CyberSocketWebAwards. www.cybersocketwebawards.com. 2018-10-17. June 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210615125357/http://cybersocketwebawards.com/past_winners.php. live.

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