wtf! Sweet Ent. busted?

[jensxx]

was watching the 6:00 news on BCTV, heard 4 people from Sweet Ent have been arrested by VPD.

Did I hear right? Can't find anything on BCTV's website
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/globaltv/

Does anyone have any information?

[Panky]

Welcum to XNations jensxx!





Panky

ICQ:51140074

[jensxx]

i found the story:

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/stor...D-302EA9105486

[Evil Chris]

Allegations in a hyped up news story.

There mustn't be much else to do or report on in Vancouver today.

Steve & Co. will be just fine I'm sure.

[Mister X]

Looks like a model with a grudge or something maybe. Most likely nothing will come of it but it's gonna suck trying to get their business back together after all their computers and records were seized.

[Validus]

I thought you guys might like this...



FROM: Sweet Legal Department

Sweet Entertainment Group
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Date: December 10, 2002

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mr. Steve Sweet, President of Sweet Entertainment Group (SEG), and 3 other principals of the Corporation were charged on December 6, 2002 with 6 counts of obscenity based on 3 specific videos from the SadoSlaves.com Library.

SEG has not been charged with any criminal offense. Mr. Sweet has not been detained in this matter.

The Crown has alleged that Lexa Lords, Naughty Nikki and Mistress Twilight sadoslaves.com video episodes are obscene pursuant to s. 163 of the Criminal Code of Canada. Three counts allege that the accused "did make, distribute and circulate an obscene video" and three counts allege "did have in their possession for the purpose of publication, distribution and circulation, an obscene video."

It appears that the Crown is concentrating its efforts on the BDSM subculture by alleging that the material in question combines explicit sex with violence or torture or that the material is degrading and dehumanizing. The Crown has not to date provided particulars of what segment of the videos it regards as being obscene.

The charges stem from Vancouver Police Department raids on the premises of Sweet Entertainment Group that occurred on March 13, 2002 and second raid that occurred November 7, 2002.

A number of pre-charge applications and motions to Court have already been successfully brought by SEG resulting in Orders from both the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia for the return of SEG property.

The most recent decision from the Supreme Court of Canada regarding obscenity is a 1992 decision Regina v. Butler. Much has changed in the past 10 years, with the explosion of the Internet, the commercial availability of BDSM type content and the shift of community standards this past decade. Mr. Sweet has indicated that SEG will vigorously defend the charges. The case is far from trial and many matters remain to be dealt with. Of course, should the matter reach trial constitutional arguments regarding Freedom of Speech under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will be at the forefront of what will likely prove to be a precedent setting case.

The maximum penalty under Canadian law for this offence is 2 years. A conviction generally results in a fine.

SEG will continue to provide cutting edge content to its many customers and carry on its operations as it rises to meet this legal challenge.


P. G. Kent-Snowsell, B.A. , LL.B.
Head of Legal Affairs
Sweet Entertainment Group

[DragonKing]

I can tell you from my own experience, when the media get a hold of an interesting story, they do all they can to stretch truths and make false allegations to make the story even more sellable.

In the end the courst will decide what is what.

I know Steve and wish him and his crew the best of luck through this.

Evil!!
quepasa mi amigo?!

[Magnus3x]

Exactly, there is always 2 sides..and the media does'nt count as one of them, they baloon stuff like crazy.

[Sly]

Originally posted by DragonKing
I can tell you from my own experience, when the media get a hold of an interesting story, they do all they can to stretch truths and make false allegations to make the story even more sellable.

In the end the courst will decide what is what.

I know Steve and wish him and his crew the best of luck through this.

Evil!!
quepasa mi amigo?!

The media can easily destroy lives.

[sherie]

Well it's not the first time, nor will it be the last.

A year long investigation...hmmmm, wonder how many of VPD were regulars LMFAO

If they only spent that much time up the street where heroin is being sold....

Although, if and I mean *IF* women were abused there then I do not condone that at all!

[Mister X]

Well what a load of shit those assholes reported. Almost all of it is old news and Sweet already got all their stuff back. Just goes to show ya.

[Funbrunette]

Wow...I hope this doesn't get blown out of proportion too much! God damn Media!

[Juge]

Man, that's crazy what the news report is saying. Especially if you guys know the real truth, and they've alreday gotten their shit back. I hate the media... they should be able to get sued for false reports. The same thing with the people who call the cops on these people with false claims.

[SEGuru]

They keep on fighting and keep on winning! YOU GO STEVE!
KICK SOME ASS! DAMNIT!
I've known Steve for Years....and know he's a stand up guy!

You could also call him a Pioneer, in the sense that someone has to be the first out there to help define where personal rights end and obsenity begins. If it always stays gray area...no one would have any specific knowledge to support their thoughts on biz models in this space.

You're a FUCKIN PIONEER STEVE!

GETCHA SOME!

[Evil Chris]

SEGuru... hey buddy how are things!
Tell us what's going on at TEN.

[Vid Vicious]

Originally posted by SEGuru
They keep on fighting and keep on winning! YOU GO STEVE!
KICK SOME ASS! DAMNIT!
I've known Steve for Years....and know he's a stand up guy!

You could also call him a Pioneer, in the sense that someone has to be the first out there to help define where personal rights end and obsenity begins. If it always stays gray area...no one would have any specific knowledge to support their thoughts on biz models in this space.

You're a FUCKIN PIONEER STEVE!

GETCHA SOME!

Good Post!
I'm behind oyu 100 % ! I don't know steve but have heared lots of great thing about those brothers in Vancouver .. Keep the Faith!

[SEGuru]

I mean where do I begin? Chris, as a brief synopsis:

- Launching TeN.com in Hotel rooms all over the US via our deal with OnCommand.

- Revamping our Mailer

- Content Feeds are now on a very tight release schedule, as we release 1 new product every 14 days and have done so now for the last couple of months. This schedule is being escalated to produce even more new products.

- New affiliate program coming

- New Site Infrastructures for most of the premium domains

- Cross Platform promotions being launched between our 7 Satellite/Cable Broadcast Platforms and our websites.

- Just launched YOURNAME@PUSSY.COM and will branch this out to the rest of our really naughty domains.

- Ramping up the deal between Fast Search & Transfer and our PPC engine: Sexfiles

Whew...and I take a breath. We're some busy campers, and its been a lot of work.
Hell we're right in the middle of moving our datacenter from L.A. to Boulder, Colorado as we speak. So its been a crazy ride and a half for us in getting operations stabilized. Gawd knows I luv a challenge, and this has been a big one.

Its all good Chris. However, I could use a vacation now...and Internext does NOT qualify!

So we must do drinks and catch up my brutha!

[Mister X]

Originally posted by SEGuru
They keep on fighting and keep on winning! YOU GO STEVE!
KICK SOME ASS! DAMNIT!
I've known Steve for Years....and know he's a stand up guy!

You could also call him a Pioneer, in the sense that someone has to be the first out there to help define where personal rights end and obsenity begins. If it always stays gray area...no one would have any specific knowledge to support their thoughts on biz models in this space.

You're a FUCKIN PIONEER STEVE!

GETCHA SOME!

Actually it really could end up being something very good for the porn biz in Canada. There's so much gray area in the laws right now it's pathetic.

[JFK]

Originally posted by DragonKing
I can tell you from my own experience, when the media get a hold of an interesting story, they do all they can to stretch truths and make false allegations to make the story even more sellable.

In the end the courst will decide what is what.

I know Steve and wish him and his crew the best of luck through this.

Evil!!
quepasa mi amigo?!

An You know what, the media know that sex sells, and they are going to have a field day with this !

[LAJ]

We've got Steve Sweet on as a special guest today on the YNOTBob Humpday Lunch Radio show at http://www.albumside.com

Might even be able to get his lawyer on the phone on the air as well. It'll be great to hear Steve's side of the story, so come and check it out at noon pacific time today.

[PaulSweet]

Originally posted by Validus
I thought you guys might like this...



FROM: Sweet Legal Department

Sweet Entertainment Group
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Date: December 10, 2002

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mr. Steve Sweet, President of Sweet Entertainment Group (SEG), and 3 other principals of the Corporation were charged on December 6, 2002 with 6 counts of obscenity based on 3 specific videos from the SadoSlaves.com Library.

SEG has not been charged with any criminal offense. Mr. Sweet has not been detained in this matter.

The Crown has alleged that Lexa Lords, Naughty Nikki and Mistress Twilight sadoslaves.com video episodes are obscene pursuant to s. 163 of the Criminal Code of Canada. Three counts allege that the accused "did make, distribute and circulate an obscene video" and three counts allege "did have in their possession for the purpose of publication, distribution and circulation, an obscene video."

It appears that the Crown is concentrating its efforts on the BDSM subculture by alleging that the material in question combines explicit sex with violence or torture or that the material is degrading and dehumanizing. The Crown has not to date provided particulars of what segment of the videos it regards as being obscene.

The charges stem from Vancouver Police Department raids on the premises of Sweet Entertainment Group that occurred on March 13, 2002 and second raid that occurred November 7, 2002.

A number of pre-charge applications and motions to Court have already been successfully brought by SEG resulting in Orders from both the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Provincial Court of British Columbia for the return of SEG property.

The most recent decision from the Supreme Court of Canada regarding obscenity is a 1992 decision Regina v. Butler. Much has changed in the past 10 years, with the explosion of the Internet, the commercial availability of BDSM type content and the shift of community standards this past decade. Mr. Sweet has indicated that SEG will vigorously defend the charges. The case is far from trial and many matters remain to be dealt with. Of course, should the matter reach trial constitutional arguments regarding Freedom of Speech under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will be at the forefront of what will likely prove to be a precedent setting case.

The maximum penalty under Canadian law for this offence is 2 years. A conviction generally results in a fine.

SEG will continue to provide cutting edge content to its many customers and carry on its operations as it rises to meet this legal challenge.


P. G. Kent-Snowsell, B.A. , LL.B.
Head of Legal Affairs
Sweet Entertainment Group

-----------------

Lots of BS flying around since the Media has picked up our story. So please everyone read this PR again. There are NO....let me repeat that N O rape charges.

Also there are No....N O charges for
- fisting
-pissing
- degradation


There are 2 charges on 3 scenes in our BDSM feed SadoSlaves. Each of those scenes involves Needles/piercings on the girls.

None of our content features Rape or girls being held against their will - besides the fact that they are tied up. Lets go over that again. No Rape. No rape is depicted.

There is no dialogue of a girl begging to be let go, they never say "NO" - in all our footage this is true. In the BDSM footage they cry and scream. Thats in the script. Most of the "torture" devices are fake - just like Bangbus...its a script. The electric cattle prod is a toy, the wax candles are made of the same wax ladies use to wax their legs, etc.....the fact that people are shocked by it is the point. Its just like when you go to a movie and you believe that someone is bruised or injured. THey aren't really.

You don't have to like BDSM. But BDSM has existed for a very, very long time, well before people used a term like "porn" and respresents a lifestyle between two CONSENTING adults. There are safe words involved so people no when the line is being crossed. Do some research on BDSM if you know nothing on it but feel the need to babble on unfettered.

Thats our stance and we believe in it. And we're going to fight for that right in court if need be.

[sherie]

Well we all know that the media loves this type of stuff.

You and your company will prevail once again!

Look at the bright side, you just got LOADS of free press lol

[Evil Chris]

Originally posted by SEGuru
I mean where do I begin? Chris, as a brief synopsis:

- Launching TeN.com in Hotel rooms all over the US via our deal with OnCommand.

- Revamping our Mailer

- Content Feeds are now on a very tight release schedule, as we release 1 new product every 14 days and have done so now for the last couple of months. This schedule is being escalated to produce even more new products.

- New affiliate program coming

- New Site Infrastructures for most of the premium domains

- Cross Platform promotions being launched between our 7 Satellite/Cable Broadcast Platforms and our websites.

- Just launched YOURNAME@PUSSY.COM and will branch this out to the rest of our really naughty domains.

- Ramping up the deal between Fast Search & Transfer and our PPC engine: Sexfiles

Whew...and I take a breath. We're some busy campers, and its been a lot of work.
Hell we're right in the middle of moving our datacenter from L.A. to Boulder, Colorado as we speak. So its been a crazy ride and a half for us in getting operations stabilized. Gawd knows I luv a challenge, and this has been a big one.

Its all good Chris. However, I could use a vacation now...and Internext does NOT qualify!

So we must do drinks and catch up my brutha!

Internext certainly doesn't qualify, but it's all we have to work with!
I'd love to chat with ya in Vegas. About a year and a half ago I was talking to some guys from TEN. Good to hear it's going well, and is obviously keeping you busy!