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Kink.com

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Kink.com
IndustryInternet pornography
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997)
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Key people
Peter Acworth
Number of employees
100 Edit this on Wikidata
WebsiteOfficial website

Kink.com is an independent San Francisco–based bondage internet pornography company that runs a group of websites devoted to BDSM and related fetishes. Kink.com, along with Kink Studios, LLC, Hogtied.com and Behindkink.com are DBAs for Cybernet Entertainment LLC, the parent company that operates the studio.[1]

In March 2018, Alison Boden, the former VP of Technology, became the new CEO of Kink.com.[2] She helmed the company until founder Peter Acworth returned in 2021.[3]

Origin

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Kink.com was started by UK native Peter Acworth in 1997 while he was a doctoral candidate in finance at Columbia University. After reading a story in a British tabloid about a fireman who made £250,000 in a short period by starting an Internet pornography website, Acworth decided to start a pornographic web site of his own. Since Acworth had what he described as a lifelong interest in bondage, he oriented the site toward BDSM pornography.[4] The site was called Hogtied.com and initially featured content that was licensed from other primary producers. The site was successful and was soon grossing several thousand dollars per day. Acworth left his graduate studies to work on the site full-time.[4]

In 1998, Acworth moved the company from New York City to San Francisco.[4] Finding that sales were leveling off because other sites were using the same content, Acworth began producing his own material, initially featuring himself with various models whom he found through Craigslist or through his photographer friends.[4][5] He opened the company's second site, Fucking Machines, in 2000,[6] and has since opened 26 additional subscription Web sites.[7] Several Web sites under the Kink.com umbrella feature directors who relocated following the demise of Insex as a result of US government pressure in 2005, but offer more of a focus on consensuality than Insex was known for.

Exterior view of the San Francisco Armory

Acquisition of the San Francisco Armory

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In late 2006, Kink.com purchased the San Francisco Armory for $14.5 million, for use as a production studio. A group known as the Mission Armory Community Collective formed to oppose Kink.com's use of the building and in early February 2007 held a public protest in front of the building.[4][8]

At one point, there were plans to demolish part of the building to make way for a condominium development. Such news brought in supporters who welcomed Kink.com's preservation of the historic building as part of an overall attempt to revitalize and bring back business to the area, without altering the appearance of the historic building.[9]

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom also expressed concern over the Kink.com purchase, and scheduled a special meeting of the San Francisco Planning Commission in March 2007 to review the company's use of the building.[4] The meeting was well-attended by both supporters and opponents of the Kink.com purchase. One opponent, anti-pornography campaigner Melissa Farley compared the images produced by Kink.com to images of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, and testified against the purchase.[9][10]

The Planning Commission ruled that Kink.com was not in violation of any law or zoning requirement.[11][12][13]

Although Kink.com has stated that its activities would be invisible to the surrounding neighborhood, La Casa de las Madres, a neighboring women's shelter, announced that they would be leaving the location because of the media scrutiny of Kink.com's presence.[14] In addition to utilizing the Armory for its own productions, Kink.com also rents space in the historic building to local independent filmmakers to use as locations in non-pornographic narrative films and videos.

By 2013, Kink.com was converting rooms at the Armory into webcam studios that independent webcam models could rent.[15] In January 2017, Kink.com announced that it would cease to use the Armory for film production.[16]

In 2018, Acworth sold the Armory for $65 million.[17]

Specialty web sites

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A shoot for Public Disgrace

In 2007, the company's web site Fucking Machines was involved in a trademark dispute when the United States Patent and Trademark Office refused to grant a trademark for the name of the site, asserting that it was obscene.[18] Also in 2007, the company began streaming regular live shows, in part as a defense against copyright infringement.[19] By 2008, live shows were being streamed by Device Bondage, a Kink.com bondage site,[20] and erotic wrestling site Ultimate Surrender began streaming its competitive matches live in 2008.[21]

A shoot for Bound Gods

In 2008, the company added on-demand technology to its web sites, selling updates to their websites on a per-episode basis rather than strictly by subscription.[22] This system recently began adding third-party content, including that from Germany's Marquis.[23]

Also in 2008, the company launched a site called Bound Gods, a gay bondage site directed by Van Darkholme (also the director of Naked Kombat). Bound Gods was launched under a new gay-focused division, KinkMen.com.[24]

In 2014, the company announced that it was stopping production on its "wildly popular" Public Disgrace and Bound in Public sites, and changing Hardcore Gangbangs to make it more explicitly the fantasy of the female participant. Kink announced that it was increasing educational efforts, with the aim of "demystifying alternative sexualities" and would be welcoming the public into The Armory. It wished to turn Kink.com into a lifestyle brand à la Playboy.[25]

As of 2022, their main network has over 90 channels, 27 are Kink exclusives from nine studios, making it the largest fetish network to date.[26]

In October 2022, Kink launched KinkMen as its own, exclusive paysite within the Kink network, bringing in performers from across the male kink and fetish sphere, and featuring directors such as Dominic Pacifico and Micah Martinez.[27]

Kink AI

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Kink AI is an artificial intelligence platform designed for adults to explore sexual fantasies through text-based interactions and image generation. The platform includes a chatbot for erotic conversations and an AI-powered image generator for creating explicit artwork. The driver of the project is Peter Acworth, british entrepreneur and founder of kink.com. Benjamin Pollack (Product Director), Petru Popa (Head of Growth) and Robert Pop (CTO) are managing and fine tuning the project.[28]

The platform offers two main features: NSFW Sexting AI, a chatbot designed for erotic conversations; internally named Kinky Chat and NSFW AI Art Generator: An AI system that creates explicit images based on user prompts; internally named Kinky Image. [28]

Kink AI reportedly began as a minimum viable product (MVP) test to generate articles for an internal project called Kink Store in Q3 2023. Peter was trying to find a way to create more effective educational content for the Kink Store user base. The platform was in beta testing for approximately four months, during which it was freely available to users. On September 6, 2024, Kink AI officially launched out of beta.

Kink AI is said to provide a diverse range of content catering to various sexual preferences and fetishes. The platform's stated goal is to represent different gender identities, sexual orientations, and fantasy elements in its character options. This approach is designed to appeal to a broad user base with diverse interests in alternative sexuality.

The platform's character includes male characters, female characters, transgender characters, fantasy, game and anime-inspired characters.

As of the platform's stable launch in September 2024, Kink AI features 200+ unique AI-generated characters. According to company statements, there are plans to expand this roster significantly, with a stated goal of reaching 1,000 characters by the end of Q4 2024.[29] However, as of 10 September 2024, there is no independent verification of the company meeting its character development milestones.

Documentary

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Banner of Fucking Machines, a website under Kink.com

In 2013 Kink, a documentary, was made about the company.

Award nominations

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  • 2008, Kink.com was nominated for a 2009 AVN Award in a new category, Best Adult Web Site.[30]
  • 2010 XBIZ Award Nominee - Innovative Company of the Year[31]

Awards

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  • 2009 XBIZ Award – FSC Leadership Award[32]
  • 2009 XBIZ Award – Original Web Content[32]
  • 2011 AVN Award – Best Alternative Web Site[33]
  • 2012 XBIZ Award – Fetish Studio of the Year[34]
  • 2013 XBIZ Award – Specialty Site of the Year[35]
  • 2013 AVN Award – Best Alternative Website[36]
  • 2014 AVN Award – Best Alternative Web Site[37]
  • 2014 AVN Award – Best Web Premiere (Public Disgrace 31515)[37]
  • 2014 XBIZ Award – Specialty Site of the Year[38]
  • 2014 XBIZ Award – BDSM Site of the Year (DivineBitches.com)[38]
  • 2015 XBIZ Award – Adult Site of the Year – BDSM[39]
  • 2015 CyberSocket Web Award – Best Hardcore/Fetish Site (KinkMen.com)[40]
  • 2016 XBIZ Award – Adult Site of the Year – BDSM[41]
  • 2016 CyberSocket Web Award – Best Hardcore/Fetish Site (KinkMen.com)[42]
  • 2016 TEA Award – Best Scene (Yasmin Lee and Lucas Knight on TS Seduction)[43]
  • 2016 AVN Award – Best Alternative Website[44]
  • 2017 AVN Award – Best BDSM movie (Deception: A XXX Thriller)[45]
  • 2017 AVN Award – Best Alternative Website[45]
  • 2017 XBIZ Award – Adult Site of the Year – BDSM[46]
  • 2017 TEA Award – Best Scene (Threesome with Aubrey Kate, Will Havoc, and Phoenix Marie on TS Seduction)[47]
  • 2017 StorErotica Award – Fetish Company of the Year ("Kink" by Doc Johnson)[48]
  • 2017 Adultex Award – Best Fetish/Alternate Product Range ("Kink" by Doc Johnson)[49]
  • 2018 XBIZ Award – BDSM Site of the Year[50]
  • 2018 XBIZ Award – BDSM Release of the Year (Whipped Ass 21: Masochistic MILFs)[50]
  • 2018 XBIZ Award – Fetish Product/Line of the Year ("Kink" by Doc Johnson)[50]
  • 2018 StorErotica Award – BDSM Product of the Year ("Power Banger Sex Machine", "Kink" by Doc Johnson)[51]
  • 2018 CyberSocket Web Award – Best Hardcore/Fetish Site (KinkMen.com)[52]
  • 2018 NightMoves Award – Best Fetish/Taboo/Specialty Release (Hardcore Gangbang Parodies #3)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Staff. "Kink's Acworth Responds to AHF's Nevada OSHA Complaint Kink owner says the AHF complaint is "baseless" and meant to be a distraction from the Foundations many other problems". AVN.com. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  2. ^ Evangelista, Benny (May 9, 2018). "Sex site Kink's new CEO moves ahead, unchained from past". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Adams, JC (September 24, 2021). "Kink.com Founder Peter Acworth Returns as CEO". XBIZ. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "A Disciplined Business" Archived October 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine by Jon Mooallem, The New York Times Magazine, April 29, 2007.
  5. ^ "The New Pornographers" Archived 2007-11-17 at the Wayback Machine by Robin Rinaldi, 7x7, August 01, 2006.
  6. ^ " The Man Behind the Fucking Machines" Archived April 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Village Voice, July 16, 2008
  7. ^ "Kink.com Celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary" Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, Behind Kink, February 1, 2008.
  8. ^ "Kink hearing: The pornographer's purchase of the Armory faces more roadblocks" by Deborah Giattina, San Francisco Bay Guardian, March 7, 2007.
  9. ^ a b "San Francisco Planning Commission - Special Public Hearing" Archived March 4, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, SFGTV, March 8, 2007. (link to streaming Windows Media Video and downloadable MP3 audio)
  10. ^ "Kink.Com in San Francisco: Women and Gay Men's Abu Ghraib" Archived January 8, 2018, at the Wayback Machine by Melissa Farley, Traffick Jamming (blog), February 8, 2007.
  11. ^ No welcome mat for adult film studio" Archived May 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine by Marisa Lagos, San Francisco Chronicle, January 26, 2007
  12. ^ "Planning Commission hears Kink.com case" Archived October 9, 2017, at the Wayback Machine by Liz Highleyman, Bay Area Reporter, March 15, 2007.
  13. ^ Rubenstein, Steve (January 13, 2007). "Ex-armory turns into porn site". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
  14. ^ "Service organization flees from kinky Mission neighbor" by Sarah Duxbury, San Francisco Business Times, March 23, 2007.
  15. ^ Richtel, Matt (September 21, 2013). "Intimacy on the Web, With a Crowd". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Kink.com To Stop Filming In Its Controversial Porn Dungeon". Vocativ. January 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  17. ^ "SF Armory sells for $65 million - to be used for manufacturing and offices". SFChronicle.com. February 8, 2018. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  18. ^ Jeffrey C. Billman (June 7, 2007). "THE F BOMB". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  19. ^ "At Kink.com, A Live Tool Against Piracy" Archived October 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, CNet News, March 30, 2007.
  20. ^ "Trina Michaels to Appear Live on DeviceBondage.com". XBiz. August 14, 2008. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  21. ^ "Ultimate Surrender Streams 3 Matches Live" Archived December 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Adult Video News, August 18, 2008.
  22. ^ "Kink.com Launches Kink On Demand" Archived August 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Adult Video News, August 6, 2008.
  23. ^ "Kink.com Partners With Germany's Marquis" Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Adult Video News, August 19, 2008.
  24. ^ "Kink.com Launches First Gay Bondage Site". Adult Video News. August 4, 2008. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  25. ^ Clark-Flory, Tracy (October 22, 2014). "From gang bangs to glam: How Kink.com is remaking itself as a lifestyle brand". Salon. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  26. ^ "History of Kink.com". Discountedporn.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  27. ^ Smithberg, Allen. "Kink.com Launches KinkMen as Standalone Paysite". AVN. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Ethical Issues AI 'dream girls' are coming for porn stars' jobs". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  29. ^ "🔥🤖 200 Characters Now, 1000 Coming Soon! 💥💋 - Kink AI | Beamer". 🔥🤖 200 Characters Now, 1000 Coming Soon! 💥💋 - Kink AI | Beamer. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  30. ^ "Complete 2009 AVN Awards Nominee List" Archived 2008-12-18 at the Wayback Machine, AVNAwards.com, November 25, 2008.
  31. ^ XBIZ Announces Finalist Nominees for 2010 XBIZ Awards Archived January 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, XBIZ, Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009
  32. ^ a b "XBIZ Awards - Past Winners". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  33. ^ "AVN Announces the Winners of the 2011 AVN Awards". AVN. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  34. ^ "XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  35. ^ "XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  36. ^ AVN, Robert Neuwave. "The 2013 AVN Award Winners! | AVN". AVN. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  37. ^ a b AVN Staff (January 19, 2014). "AVN Announces the Winners of the 2014 AVN Awards". AVN. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  38. ^ a b "XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  39. ^ XBIZ Award Winners Archived June 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, XBIZ, January, 2015
  40. ^ "CyberSocketWebAwards". www.cybersocketwebawards.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  41. ^ "XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  42. ^ "CyberSocketWebAwards". www.cybersocketwebawards.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  43. ^ "The TEA Show 2016 Winners - The TEA Show". The TEA Show. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  44. ^ AVN, Sharan Street. "AVN Announces the Winners of the 2016 AVN Awards | AVN". AVN. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  45. ^ a b Smithberg, Allen (January 21, 2017). "2017 AVN Award Winners Announced". AVN. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  46. ^ "XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  47. ^ "2017 TEA Winners - The TEA Show". The TEA Show. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  48. ^ "Storerotica Awards 2017". StorErotica Magazine. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  49. ^ XBIZ. "Adultex 2017 Wraps, Award Winners Announced". XBIZ. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  50. ^ a b c "XBIZ Awards 2018 - Jan 18, Los Angeles". XBIZ Awards. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  51. ^ "Storerotica Awards 2018". StorErotica Magazine. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  52. ^ "CyberSocketWebAwards". www.cybersocketwebawards.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2018.

Further reading

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[edit]
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