Yesterday we learned that Vesta’s Bondage Divas site is closing after 13 years. On her site, she mentions increasing costs and falling membership numbers as being the primary reasons for closing. We also got an email from another producer, who has been around just as long, voicing serious concern over one of the many tube sites out there that features nothing but stolen content. We couldn’t help but see a direct cause and effect between the two.

Bondage Divas has been around almost as long as we have and it is always sad to see another of the early bondage sites close. Not sure how many of you remember, but 13 to 15 years ago, there were very few bondage sites that were actually producing new, original content. When Imago Studios went live about 14 years ago, there were only a handful of such sites. Most of the bondage sites were just ‘scan sites’ that did nothing more then put up scans from existing magazines. In a few years, the web would explode with new bondage sites, but in those early years, we were a very small group. Unfortunately, over the last year or two, it seem like more and more of those original sites are going under.

In a previous blog entry, we mentioned that we have also seen a decrease in membership numbers over the last few years. While the bad economy may be partially to blame, the glut of stolen material, hacking, and illegal file sharing sites are the main problem. Unfortunately, there seems to be no easy solution. Otherwise honest people seem to have no problem with posting large quantities of copyrighted material to these sharing sites. Perhaps they see no harm in what they are doing. I doubt any of them would break into your home or business or mug you in the back alley, but what they are doing is really no different. It is simply far easier to post and share stolen content, which probably explains why so many are willing to ignore what ethics they may have and do it. Or perhaps they just feel a need to be part of something anyway they can, to get some recognition from others that share their willingness to do wrong simply because it is easier and cheaper than to do what is right & honest. It is not as if these people have actually produced the content, paid for the models or the equipment or taken any of the financial or legal risks associated with the business. But some seem to crave the recognition as if they had somehow done something noble or good. Perhaps a few are simply ignorant of the harm they do – but we sincerely doubt it. Regardless of their motives, it is a very sad commentary on the dark side of human nature, the ease with which people will act unethically and the misuse of social networking and file sharing sites.

With all that is going on, it makes us wonder who will be next. It will be quite ironic if what finally kills off the bulk of bondage websites is the misguided actions of their own “fans” and not the actions of those that despise what we do and push for more government regulation, fees, and out & out censorship. Ironic & sad.