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Paypal may be backing off
Paypal, getting pressured from many sides, is reconsidering their ban on certain kinds of erotica. Reps from several ebook publishing companies, including Mark Coker from Smashwords, have contacted them to say (1) "WTF? I mean, well, um... WTF?" and (2) "how exactly do you define these terms, because once you shift from 'incest' which has kinda-sorta a legal definition to 'pseudo-incest,' how are we supposed to know if a book fits that or not?" and also (3) "Do you have any idea how many historical novels smash into multiple areas of your new ban?" and then (4) "also, WTF?"
PayPal attempted to say it was the credit card companies demanding these changes. BannedWriters got a response from Visa: Visa had no involvement with PayPal’s conclusion on this issue. ... Visa would take no action regarding lawful material that seeks to explore erotica in a fictional or educational manner. Then they got a response from Mastercard: MasterCard had no involvement in the decision made by PayPal ... MasterCard would not take action regarding the use of its cards and systems for the sale of lawful materials that seek to explore erotica content of this nature.
Smashwords posted a quick note today (dated Mar 12, if it matters in the future; no option to link to indiv. updates): I met with PayPal this afternoon at their office in San Jose. They will soon announce revised content policies.... Details not yet available, but Smashwords is going back to its former content policies yaaay!
Bitmag talked to some people at the EFF, who have a "good feeling" about negotiations with PayPal: PayPal’s general counsel indicating that they would be “discussing it internally and might even be able to make a public statement in the next week.”
The EFF, she notes, specifically has requested that PayPal “update their policy so that this type of legal fiction would not be affected.”
Outcry against PayPal's censorship was widespread--articles were posted by the EFF, Forbes.com, Huffington Post, and Reuters and CNET.
PayPal attempted to say it was the credit card companies demanding these changes. BannedWriters got a response from Visa: Visa had no involvement with PayPal’s conclusion on this issue. ... Visa would take no action regarding lawful material that seeks to explore erotica in a fictional or educational manner. Then they got a response from Mastercard: MasterCard had no involvement in the decision made by PayPal ... MasterCard would not take action regarding the use of its cards and systems for the sale of lawful materials that seek to explore erotica content of this nature.
Smashwords posted a quick note today (dated Mar 12, if it matters in the future; no option to link to indiv. updates): I met with PayPal this afternoon at their office in San Jose. They will soon announce revised content policies.... Details not yet available, but Smashwords is going back to its former content policies yaaay!
Bitmag talked to some people at the EFF, who have a "good feeling" about negotiations with PayPal: PayPal’s general counsel indicating that they would be “discussing it internally and might even be able to make a public statement in the next week.”
The EFF, she notes, specifically has requested that PayPal “update their policy so that this type of legal fiction would not be affected.”
Outcry against PayPal's censorship was widespread--articles were posted by the EFF, Forbes.com, Huffington Post, and Reuters and CNET.