What Is 18 U.S.C. 2257?
18 U.S.C. 2257 is a US federal law requiring producers of explicit sexual content to maintain records verifying that every performer is 18 years or older.
The law was passed in 1988 and has been updated several times. It applies to:
- Primary producers: people who actually film explicit sexual content
- Secondary producers: websites and platforms that host or distribute such content
Both creators and platforms have obligations under 2257.
What Records Are Required?
Performers' legal names and any aliases used.
Date of birth, verified by government-issued ID.
The title(s) of the work in which they appear.
The date(s) of production.
These records must be maintained for 7 years and available for inspection upon request.
What Platforms Must Do
Secondary producers (platforms like ClipsVault) must maintain their own records showing:
- The name and contact information of the primary producer
- Either a copy of the primary producer's 2257 records, or a declaration that such records exist and where they're maintained
ClipsVault's Compliance Process
When creators sign up on ClipsVault, they undergo an ID verification process:
- Government-issued photo ID submission
- Selfie verification for age and identity match
- Consent form acknowledging 2257 obligations
All creator documents are maintained in compliance with 2257 requirements. ClipsVault's full compliance statement is available at clipsvault.io/2257.
What Creators Must Do
As the primary producer of your content:
1. Verify the age of anyone who appears in your content (including yourself)
2. Maintain ID records for all performers
3. Keep these records for 7 years
4. Make them available to the platform you sell through
This is not optional regardless of which platform you use. 2257 applies to the content, not just the distribution channel.