Rob Zicari

Robert D. Zicari a.k.a. Rob Black (born c. 1973) is a U.S. pornographer.

In 2003, Zicari, his wife Janet Romano (a.k.a. Lizzy Borden) and his company Extreme Associates were indicted for violating federal obscenity laws by distributing pornographic materials, some of which depicted simulated rape. The case is U.S. v. Extreme Associates.

The company is located in Northridge near Los Angeles, but the trial takes place in Pittsburgh, from where under-cover agents ordered the offending materials.

Zicari remained in business during the trial; he markets and sells the five tapes that are at the center of the prosecution as The Federal Five, with a portion of the sales price going to his defense fund. (Production and distribution of obscenity is illegal, while mere possession is not.)

In April 2004, Zicari engaged in a public dispute with fellow pornographer Larry Flynt, who also had to fight various obscenity trials in the past. Zicari asked the adult industry for financial support to aid in his defense; Flynt declined, saying that he only promotes consensual sex and that Zicari's actions harmed the industry as a whole.

During a hearing in November 2004, Zicari's lawyer argued that the right to privacy gave individuals the constitutional right to view offending materials in private, a right which cannot be meaningfully exercised without a corresponding right of companies to distribute such materials. The prosecution countered that an individual's right to privacy is unrelated to a company's right to commercial distribution.

On January 20 2005, the District Court judge dropped the charges, agreeing with the defense that the Federal anti-obscenity statutes are unconstitutional. The department of Justice announced (Feb.16 2005) it is to appeal the ruling. [1]

XPW

Zicari and Romano were also influential in the XPW independent professional wrestling promotion, which often featured adult movie stars and action that blurred the line between truly serious injury and sports entertainment.

External links

• Dispute between Zicari and Flynt
• Report on November 2004 hearing
• Dismissal of U.S. v. Extreme Associates
• Department of Justice announcement of appeal