R18 availability

[DavidS]

I would be interested in the views of others, particularly those involved in the industry, regarding the availability of R18's nationwide. I do not generally like those subjects which are still on the BBFC banned list, so R18's suit me, or at least they would if I could easily obtained the types of films I like, i.e. British and German. I live in a rural area and the nearest large city only has one licenced sex shop, and of course that is the chain that always seems to be in dispute with the companies who distribute the films I like. I usually jump on a train and come to Soho where I can get the type of film I want at less than half the price I pay locally! However I do have two questions. Is it reasonable for a Local Authority to restrict competition by only licencing a single shop in an area which has a catchment of several hundred thousand? How can the industry address this problem? It must be causing a loss of potential income.

[Rem]

No problem go to good British DVDs and videos straight from the producer, top quality... Need I say more

[eroticartist]

The R18 category is illegal under the European free market laws. The number one rule is the free movement of goods and services. As a producer and distributor of my own films I want to deal directly to my customers by mail-order and not deal with some dubious character in a Soho porn shop or his "guvnor".

The porn shops stand between myself as a film-maker and my customers, the British public. The R18 category gives the owners of the shops the monopoly of distributing every adult film made in this country, including my own.

There is only one kind of adult and the R18 classification should be dropped and 18 retained in the interest of the free market for the public and freedom of expression for the film-maker. Mike Freeman

[joe king]

here, here!!!

[jj]

DavidS wrote:

> ........ and of course that is the chain that always seems to be in dispute
> with the companies who distribute the films I like.
R18 as set up at present is a legalised monopoly for Sullivan and his associates- nice for them, bad news for the poor punter.

> Is it reasonable for a Local Authority to restrict competition by only
> licencing a single shop
No, but then they think you should be grateful they've actually licensed even one. They don't give a hoot. And the same name is always behind, if not actually on, the License application.

> It must be causing a loss of potential income.
Not for the bigger players. 'Twas ever thus. Buy in the London independents, or online, and tell Davey to shove it sideways until it squeaks.

[jj]

Yep, can't argue with that- although the usual self-interest groups will cry 'foul'.