Volume VII

Issue : 11: June 6, 2009

• Microsoft Found Guilty of Patent Infringement
• Craigslist Drops Erotic Services Ads
• Amazon Counters Infringement Suit with an Infringement Suit
• Blogger Lawsuits on the Rise
• Cancer Gene Patents Challenged as Unconstitutional
• Consumer Rights Groups and Small ISPs Appeal CRTC Traffic Shaping Decision
• Major Google Trade mark Policy Change

Home > Volume VII > Issue 11: June 6, 2009 > Craigslist Drops Erotic Services Ads

Craigslist Drops Erotic Services Ads

The largest online classified ads site Craigslist is closing the ‘erotic services’ category amidst criticisms from law enforcement officials that the forum fosters prostitution and other crimes. In March, a sheriff in Illinois sued Craigslist for facilitating prostitution and sought a mandatory closure of this section by the court. Pressure to shut down such ads also came from the general public after several high profile criminal cases involving users of these services. Craigslist’s CEO, Jim Buckmaster, stated that in making this decision Craigslist incorporated feedback from all relevant groups including some of the state attorneys general, free speech advocates and legal businesses entitled to advertise.

As an alternative, Craigslist will provide for an “adult services” category and a fee will be charged. Craigslist’s staff will also review all ads in this new section to avoid any illegal content.

For additional information, visit:

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090513/ap_on_hi_te/us_craigslist_attorneys_general