· 5 min read
What is 2257? Record keeping, explained.
2257 is the federal law, 18 U.S.C. 2257, that requires anyone who produces sexually explicit content to check and keep records of every performer's identity and age, and to put a statement on every copy saying where those records are kept. The records belong to the producer, not to the location. Violations can carry up to five years in prison for a first offense.
What 2257 requires
Under 18 U.S.C. 2257, a producer of any film, video, digital image or similar matter showing actual sexually explicit conduct must, for every performer:
- Check an identification document showing the performer's name and date of birth.
- Find out every other name the performer has used, including a maiden name, alias, nickname, or stage or professional name.
- Record that information, along with anything else the Attorney General's regulations require, and keep the records at the business or another place the regulations allow.
The detailed rules are in the Justice Department's regulations at 28 CFR Part 75. Most producers and creators work with a records custodian or attorney to set up their system.
Who counts as a producer
The law applies to anyone who produces covered material, not only studios. An independent creator who films and publishes their own explicit content, or who films with a partner or collaborator, is generally treated as a producer for that content. If you are not sure whether you are a primary or secondary producer under the regulations, ask a lawyer who works with adult businesses.
The labeling statement
Every copy of covered content must carry a statement describing where the records can be found. The statute says a copy includes every page of a website on which the content appears. If the producer is a company, the statement must also give the name, title and business address of the person responsible for the records.
What the courts changed
In Free Speech Coalition v. Attorney General (June 8, 2016), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that the law's warrantless inspection provisions, and the regulation that carried them out, violate the Fourth Amendment. It sent the First Amendment challenge to the record keeping and labeling rules back to the lower court for strict scrutiny. The duty to create and keep the records was not erased, so producers should keep complete records regardless.
What it means for your shoot location
A location host provides a place to shoot. It does not hire performers, check their IDs or keep 2257 records, and neither do we. When you book a home here, the production confirms that every performer is 18 or older with valid photo ID and that the producer keeps the records 2257 requires. Our booking requirements and LA compliance guide list the rest: insurance, film permits and the County health permit where it applies.
Quick answers
What does 2257 mean?
It refers to 18 U.S.C. 2257, the federal law requiring producers of sexually explicit content to verify and keep records of every performer's identity and age, and to label each copy with where the records are kept.
Do OnlyFans creators need 2257 records?
Creators who produce sexually explicit content are generally producers under 2257 for that content, so they need to verify and keep performer records, including for collaborators. Platforms also run their own ID checks. Ask a lawyer who works with adult businesses about your situation.
What is the penalty for violating 2257?
Under the statute, up to five years in prison plus a fine for a first violation, and two to ten years plus a fine for a repeat violation.
Does the location owner keep 2257 records?
No. The records belong to the producer. A location host should get written confirmation that the production keeps them, but does not hold them.
General information, not legal advice. Adult Content Locations provides locations only and does not hire, manage or keep records for performers.
Book a home whose owner has approved adult production.