Pornography by region
The production and distribution of pornographic films are both activities that are lawful in many, but by no means all, countries so long as the pornography features performers aged above a certain age, usually eighteen years. Further restrictions are often placed on such material.
The Bahamian penal code prohibits the production and distribution of obscene publications. Many types of pornography are prohibited in the Bahamas, however law enforcement is relaxed and does't usually enforce the prohibition. Pornography is available on Bahamian cable television and in 2014 ZNS-TV broadcast a report on the establishment of a local pornography industry in the Bahamas.
The laws of Canada permit the sale of hardcore pornography to anyone over the age of eighteen. While persons below that age may have pornography in their possession, its sale to them is prohibited.
Most hardcore pornography is sold in adult stores or on adult websites. In some cities, pornography can only be sold at night.
The countries of the region are mostly sexually conservative, due to the heavy influence of the Roman Catholic Church, but the viewing of pornography has been popularized by the Internet and bootlegged DVDs.
Pornography is highly restricted in Guyana. The distribution, possession, sale, and importation of pornographic magazines, DVDs, books, photographs, etc. or simply browsing for pornographic websites on the Internet can lead to a variety of punishments ranging from community service, a fine of up to 45,000 Guyana Dollars or up to 2 years imprisonment.
Pornography is legal in Jamaica for adults over 18. But age verifications for buying porn or any sex-related products are relatively lax. The Jamaican government is planning to block Internet child pornography.
Pornography is not unlawful at the federal level, but is subject to the Miller test, which was developed in the 1973 case Miller v. California. It has three parts:
Pornography is a large industry that involves major entertainment companies such as Time Warner, which offers pornography films through its cable channels and in-room movies in hotels. Pornography distribution changed radically during the 1980s, with VHS and cable television largely displacing X-rated theaters. VHS distribution, in turn, has been replaced by DVD and Internet distribution for niche markets. Pornography generates billions of dollars in sales in the United States alone. An estimated 211 new pornographic films are made every week in the United States.
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