Popular video websites Google and YouTube during the past week have removed several promotional video clips uploaded by adult novelty manufacturer Sportsheets International. Both sites claim the clips were in violation of their editorial policies, despite the content’s lack of nudity.
Sportsheets began posting seven clips from its new Sportsheets Demonstration DVD on several sites last week, including Google and YouTube, the two sites that have deemed some of the clips as inappropriate content.
The clips in question, which contain no nudity or graphic sexual content in keeping with what Sportsheets calls its "couples-friendly orientation," feature models Sarge Logan and Alektra Blue dressed in sexy lingerie while demonstrating the range of possibilities Sportsheets' products offer. The models never remove their clothes.
“Our products are made to be used by couples, and the decision to buy our products will be made by couples,” said Todd Carter, Sportsheets’ director of sales and marketing..
“Women tend to be the decision makers when couples shop together, and we were careful to keep them in mind while making this DVD. For a variety of reasons, overt sexuality or even just nudity can make some women apprehensive about purchasing an adult novelty, and so we tend to avoid that, even on our packaging.”
Carter said the presentation mixes humor with informative tips and suggestions that are designed to inform distributors, retail staff, home-party organizers, and consumers about the products Sportsheets offers.
“We teach you how to use our products and the advantages of these products, but we do it in a fun and exciting way.”
The DVD contains seven segments, each featuring one of Sportsheets' most popular intercourse-and-restraint items. Sportsheets converted each segment into a video clip and began the uploading process this past week. “Given the Internet’s ability to reach a mass audience, it seemed like a logical step,” said Carter.
Carter went on to say he was surprised when Google last week removed from Google Video a segment promoting the Super Sex Sling, just three hours after the clip had been uploaded. “We didn’t even advertise it, and we had a crazy response for about three hours. Then it was pulled down.
“They said it was inappropriate content, which is weird because none of our clips contains any nudity. I guess they thought of people having fun in their bedrooms is inappropriate,” Carter continued.
Google Video informed Sportsheets in an email that the video “was rejected because it didn’t comply with our editorial policies.”
Sportsheets appealed the removal of the clip, arguing that its clip did adhere to Google’s editorial policy, which requires that videos uploaded to the Google Video service not contain pornographic, nude, or obscene material; that the subject matter in the video must not be illegal, not contain invasions of personal privacy, and not promote hate or incitement of violence or contain graphic violence or other acts resulting in serious injury or death; and that the party uploading the video holds all pertinent legal rights to do so.
Google responded to Sportsheets' appeal by citing the clause that prohibits “videos that include pornography or obscenity, or direct users to such content.” Sportsheets pointed out that its clip violated none of the aforementioned concerns.
At this point, Google invited Sportsheets to resubmit their clip, which they did. Sportsheets also uploaded the six other clips, only to have all seven clips rejected.
Carter finds YouTube’s decision to ban clips featuring the Doggie Style and G-Spot Link especially confusing in light of the site’s decision to allow clips promoting The Sportsheet and Under The Bed Restraints. “There’s no substantial difference between the clips other than the novelties which are being showcased, and no reason to construe any of the clips as obscene or pornographic.”
Sportsheets previewed a rough cut of the DVD at last month’s Adult Novelty Expo. “We received a lot of positive feedback and a lot of pre-orders for the DVD,” Carter said. “I know that some of the retailers are planning on putting a TV near their Sportsheets stock so that they can play the DVD for their customers, and that’s something that we believe will definitely increase sales.”
Carter said that educating both sales staff and consumers has long been a key to Sportsheets’ success. “On the sales side, we have always believed that if you know how to use our products, you can sell our products.
“On the consumer side, we feel that if you know how our products can help spice up your sex life, you’ll want to own our products,” he said.
The DVD will also be bundled with some of Sportsheets’ products, beginning with the Super Sex Sling and The Sportsheet. .
Sportsheets said that it intends to host an official screening party for the DVD at the International Lingerie Show in October.
Copies of the Sportsheets Demonstration DVD may be obtained through local distributors.
