Kink.com is an internet pornography company that runs a group of websites devoted to BDSM and related fetishes.

History

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Kink.com was started by UK-native Peter Acworth in 1997 while he was a PhD student in finance at Columbia University. After reading a story in a British tabloid about a fireman who made a 250 thousand pounds in a short period by starting an internet pornography site, Acworth decided to start a porn site of his own. Since Acworth had what he described as a lifelong interest in bondage, he oriented the site toward BDSM porn.[1]

The site was called Hogtied.com and initially featured content that was licensed from other primary producers. The site was successful, and the site was soon grossing several thousand dollars per day. Acworth soon left his graduate studies to work on the site full time.[1]

In 1998, Acworth moved the company from New York City to San Francisco.[1] Finding that sales were leveling off because other sites were using the same content, Acworth began producing his own content, initially featuring himself with various models who he found through Craigslist or through his photographer friends.[1][2]

Websites

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Criticism

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "A Disciplined Business" by Jon Mooallem, The New York Times, April 29, 2007.
  2. ^ "The New Pornographers" by Robin Rinaldi, 7x7, August 01, 2006.