Federal Court Gives Porn Biz a Break

A federal appeals court threw a wrench today into the government’s efforts to stop child porn. The Cincinnati-based court struck down a 1998 law requiring porn producers to keep records of people depicted in their materials. The Justice Department argued the law helped authorities clamp down on kiddie porn, but the appeals judges ruled 2-1 that it trampled on first amendment rights.

An attorney for the plaintiff, a company that published adult magazines for swingers, told the AP the decision was a “very, very significant victory for freedom of expression.” Amateur pornographers who upload content to YouTube-style sites may also benefit from the ruling, Wired says. The law’s violators face up to five years in prison. The government is expected to appeal. (More US Circuit Court of Appeals stories.)