This is the conclusion of my interview this morning with Evil Angel owner,  former Vegas show producer, and well know porn director, John Stagliano. Bellow he reveals his decision to take the stand at his upcoming obscenity trial. He also explains how simply by enforcing current law– unlike with the music industry and mainstream movies–  because of the regulations adult companies must follow, bootlegging of porn could easily be stopped by the FBI.  Of course, that is not happening, and Stagliano is the one being prosecuted for obscenity. The Tube sites, after all,  offer identical–because it is stolen–content.

Richard Abowitz: Are you planning on taking the stand at your trial?

John Stagliano: Yes, of course.

Abowitz: Do the lawyers working on your case think that is a good idea?

Stagliano: No, everyone thinks it is a bad idea. Pretty much everyone I discussed it with told me it is not a good idea. Well, a couple people who were not lawyers said it sounded like a good idea.

Abowitz: So, why are you discarding the advice of all the lawyers you are paying to keep you out of jail?

Stagliano: Because I feel that this case is important in my life and for things that are important to me. It would be bad form at my trial to sit there quietly. I would like to open my mouth and say whatever I can possibly say within the context of testifying to defend myself. And, I do believe I can do that. It will certainly make a better movie about my life than if I don’t testify. I have to look long term and think of movie rights.  (Laughs)

Abowitz:  How much have you had to pay for all the legal advice you are discarding?

Stagliano: It is costing a lot of money. But it cost less than when I had to fight someone who was duping my movies. That was more money for lawyers than this cost. That was in 2006. I won a big judgment but I had to settle for far less.

Abowitz: So, does the Federal government do a good job protecting your copyrights on the films they prosecute you for distributing?

Stagliano: The FBI refused to protect the copyrights for my movies when we contacted them.  We had to go to a civil court to a Federal judge for copyright enforcement. But as far as protecting copyright the way they do with mainstream media, they have done far less for the porn business.

Abowitz: Is this how the Tube sites are able to get all the footage (see my article in The Daily Beat from January) they use?

Stagliano: In fact, there is a regulation and it is an important regulation that states we have to maintain records that show that for every image the performers were over 18 years of age.  The Federal government has chosen not to go after Tube sites for not maintaining those records. If they just did that it would keep the Tube sites from even existing.  You obviously can’t supply age verification paperwork if you are stealing images from other people. If the Tube sites had to comply with the law the way we have to comply with the law there would be protection for intellectual property, at least, in porn. And, Tube sites are driving me out of business. It is the lack of action there that is destroying the porn business more than obscenity prosecutions.

Abowitz: How is your health holding up during all this?

Stagliano: Honestly, I am doing great. I don’t think I have ever been healthier or felt more alive.

(Photo: Lanie Crossman)