The adult entertainment industry's hesitancy to enter the portable video market appears to have ended, according to The Washington Post:

One of the quickest industries to take advantage of the new video iPod, and other new gadgets, is one that has often been at the forefront of other technological innovations: porn.

Pornography is spreading from the computer desktop to the small screen, to pocket-sized devices such as cell phones, digital music players and portable game players. The phenomenon is being pushed not only by alternative-culture sites such as SuicideGirls but also by old-school skin traders such as Playboy and Penthouse, which this month announced plans to offer movies for viewing on portable devices.

At one point in the story, gay porn entrepreneur Michael Lucas employs a new gay stereotype (in the name of marketing, of course):

"I don't have one gay friend who would not have the new iPod," he said. "Gay people are much more technologically advanced."

Yeah, straight guys like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are soooooooo behind the curve.

[Washington Post] Mini-Porn Could Be Mega-Business (via Furdlog)

Usually eager to exploit new technologies, the adult entertainment industry is staying away from the video iPod -- at least for now:

When it comes to the iPod, [Brickhouse Mobile president Andrew] Fayling said there are few rewards and many risks. Fayling emphasized the pitfalls of combining a device designed for younger audiences with content they are prohibited from viewing.

"There's already a public perception that we (in the industry) are preying on youth," he said. "Without safeguards you open yourself up to more scrutiny from government and parents' groups."

To avoid such scrutiny, and litigation or legislation, Fayling said the industry will likely follow three guidelines regarding porn for the iPod: Customers will be age-verified through a credit card, no content will be offered for free and the material will be copy-protected so it can't be shared.

[Wired News] No Porn for You, Video IPod!

A diplomatic standoff between India and the U.S. over last week's Indian crackdown on pornography appears to have been averted. The showdown centered on the arrest of Avnish Bajaj, CEO of EBay's Indian subsidiary, after his company's site listed an auction for the cellphone sex video at the heart of the controversy. The Guardian reported last week that Condoleezza Rice allegedly phoned an Indian ambassador to demand the release of Bajaj, who is a U.S. citizen. A U.S. State Department spokesperson also told reporters that "this situation is one of concern at the highest levels of the U.S. government," prompting at least one Indian politician to accuse the U.S. of "meddling."

The confrontation apparently subsided after Bajaj was released on bail.

India Daily reports that the ongoing controversy may lead India to pass its own version of America's controversial "Digital Millenium Copyright Act." Legislators hope that such a law will provide clearer definitions of ISP and website liability than those currently in effect.

[Guardian Unlimited] Delhi schoolboy sparks global porn row
[LA Times] American Freed in Indian Scandal
[India Daily] India plans US model cyber law

If you think the U.S. has become sexually repressed as of late, check out this story about India's reaction to a 17 year old boy who used his camera phone to record a sex act. Money quote:

In a case that has shocked many Indians, the prosecution had demanded he be put in psychiatric care for displaying "animal instincts".

The parents of the girl involved have reportedly sent her to Canada. Because, as we all know, if you want to shield someone from sex tapes, you send them to North America.

[BBC News] Sex-case Delhi schoolboy bailed