MyEx.com
{{Short description|Revenge porn website}}
{{Infobox website
| name = MyEx.com
| logo =
| caption =
| url = http://www.myex.com
| type = Adult Website
| language = English
| registration = None
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2013}}
| current_status = Inactive
}}
MyEx.com was a controversial, free revenge porn website focusing on hosting nude photographs of people posted by former lovers along with their real names.
Concept
MyEx.com provided an opportunity for former lovers to upload pornographic photos of their ex-lovers acquired during the course of the relationship. Photos were generally posted with the full names of the person pictured nude and without that person's consent. Additionally, sexual comments about the subjects of the photos were solicited from visitors to the site. The site made its money through what has been described by opponents of the site as a form of blackmail—requiring subjects wishing to remove their photos pay a fee for doing so.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.businessinsider.com/reputation-management-2013-12
|title = Inside The Sleazy World Of Reputation Management, Where People Pay To Control What You See On The Internet
|first = Julie
|last = Bort
|date = December 25, 2013
|work = Business Insider
|accessdate = July 19, 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808142244/http://www.businessinsider.com/reputation-management-2013-12
|archive-date = August 8, 2014
|url-status = live
}} As of January 9th of 2018, MyEx.com was shut down by the FTC.
Controversy
Revenge porn in general is highly controversial and has been the subject of repeated attempts in different jurisdictions to criminalize it.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senate-passes-legislation-criminalizing-revenge-porn
|title = Senate Passes Legislation Criminalizing "Revenge Porn"
|first = Majority
|last = Press
|date = April 11, 2014
|work = New York State Senate
|accessdate = July 19, 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140727145802/http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senate-passes-legislation-criminalizing-revenge-porn
|archive-date = July 27, 2014
|url-status = live
|url = http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/23719333-418/bill-banning-revenge-porn-passes-wisconsin-assembly-overwhelmingly.html
|title = Bill banning 'revenge porn' passes Wisconsin Assembly overwhelmingly
|first = Todd
|last = Richmond
|date = November 12, 2013
|work = Chicago Sun-Times
|accessdate = July 19, 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140726184901/http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/23719333-418/bill-banning-revenge-porn-passes-wisconsin-assembly-overwhelmingly.html
|archive-date = July 26, 2014
|url-status = live
}} A Missouri woman obtained a restraining order against her abuser, an ex-husband. The man then posted her nude photos on MyEx.com. She lobbied for a change in Missouri laws after she discovered there were no laws against posting sexually explicit nude photos, even with a restraining order in effect.{{Cite web
|url = http://fox4kc.com/2014/07/21/revenge-porn-victim-lobbies-lawmakers-for-change
|title = 'Revenge Porn' victim lobbies lawmakers for change
|first = Sean
|last = McDowell
|date = July 21, 2014
|work = Fox 4 News
|accessdate = October 22, 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150623093059/http://fox4kc.com/2014/07/21/revenge-porn-victim-lobbies-lawmakers-for-change/
|archive-date = June 23, 2015
|url-status = live
|url = http://www.kmbc.com/news/woman-fights-for-revenge-porn-laws-after-ex-posted-nude-photo-online/25649360
|title = Woman fights for revenge porn laws after ex posted nude photo online
|first = Lara
|last = Moritz
|date = April 24, 2014
|work = KMBC 9 News
|accessdate = October 22, 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093603/http://www.kmbc.com/news/woman-fights-for-revenge-porn-laws-after-ex-posted-nude-photo-online/25649360
|archive-date = March 4, 2016
|url-status = live
}} A Seattle man was convicted and sentenced to one year in jail after posting topless and nude photos of his female clients on MyEx.com. He obtained the photos illegally through his work as a computer consultant. His specific crime appeared to be the stealing of the photos—as well as stalking the women—rather than the revenge porn per se.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicupload/eclips/2014%2012%2015%20Revenge%20porn%20culprit%20to%20serve%201%20year%20in%20jail.pdf
|title = 'Revenge porn' culprit to serve 1 year in jail
|first = Sara
|last = Green
|date = December 13, 2014
|work = The Seattle Times
|accessdate = June 29, 2016
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160827010439/http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicupload/eclips/2014%2012%2015%20Revenge%20porn%20culprit%20to%20serve%201%20year%20in%20jail.pdf
|archive-date = August 27, 2016
|url-status = live
}} In addition, civil lawsuits have been filed in connection with specific alleged postings on MyEx.com. An ex-wife of former
New York Giants player Jeff Roehl alleged that the former NFL star posted her nude photos on MyEx.com.{{Cite web
|url= http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/03/04/suit-former-nfl-player-published-explicit-images-of-ex-wife-without-permission/
|title= Suit: Former NFL Player Published Explicit Images Of Ex-Wife Without Permission
|date= March 4, 2014
|work= CBS Chicago
|accessdate= July 19, 2014
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140702150708/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/03/04/suit-former-nfl-player-published-explicit-images-of-ex-wife-without-permission/
|archive-date= July 2, 2014
|url-status= live
}} Job loss has also resulted from postings on MyEx.com.{{Cite web
|url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/christian-teacher-busted-lying-cops-naked-pics-article-1.1598734
|title = Married Christian teacher arrested for lying to police over online naked photos
|first = David
|last = Harding
|date = February 1, 2014
|work = NY Daily News
|accessdate = July 19, 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140628080500/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/christian-teacher-busted-lying-cops-naked-pics-article-1.1598734
|archive-date = June 28, 2014
|url-status = live
}} MyEx.com, along with Google and Yahoo, has also been sued for copyright infringement based upon posted photos.{{Cite web
|url= http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1658&context=historical
|title= Hollie Toups vs Google, Inc., Yahoo!, Inc. and www.myex.com
|date= March 6, 2014
|work= United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division
|accessdate= July 19, 2014
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140729003848/http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1658&context=historical
|archive-date= July 29, 2014
|url-status= live
}}
Ownership
MyEx.com was owned by [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/emp_order_granting_default_judgment_6-22-18.pdf Shad Applegate] (also known as Shad Cotelli), [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/1623052myexinfanteorder.pdf Aniello "Neil" Infante], and possibly others. The website operated through various shell companies, which were later discovered to be controlled by the same individuals. Primarily, it operated under the Nevada-based business [https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/162-3052-emp-media-inc-myexcom EMP MEDIA INC]., which stands for "Erotic Massage Parlor" This company also ran another now-defunct website, [http://web.archive.org/web/20130814171718/http://www.eroticmp.com/ EroticMP.com].
Additional ownership ties include [https://archive.today/20130508060655/http://www.myex.com/ Websolutions Netherlands BV] in 2013, which also operated the escort website Adult Search ([http://web.archive.org/web/20130821043211/http://adultsearch.com/privacy-policy adultsearch.com]), a site still active today. Both MyEx.com and Adult Search were associated with [https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77906304&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch International Spirit Limited], which shares trademark ownership with EMP MEDIA INC. International Spirit Limited also operates [https://m.tsescorts.com/terms tsescorts.com], a site for transgender sex workers.
The ownership of MyEx.com remains [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/federal_trade_commission_and_state_of_nevada_v._shad_cottelli_fka_shad_applegate_9th_cir._brief_of_the_ftc_and_the_state_of_nevada.pdf complex]. Ultimately, no clear owner was identified, as the operators were [https://casetext.com/case/fed-trade-commn-v-emp-media-inc-1 mysteriously released] from their roles and are believed to have moved on to other websites of a similar nature.
Taken Down
MyEx.com was taken down in mid January 2018 after complaints were filed by the US Federal Trade Commission and the State of Nevada.
{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/ftc-nevada-working-shut-down-revenge-porn-website-2639448 |title=FTC, Nevada Working to Shut Down Revenge Porn Website |website=International Business Times |access-date=2018-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120751/http://www.ibtimes.com/ftc-nevada-working-shut-down-revenge-porn-website-2639448 |archive-date=2018-01-19 |url-status=live }}