Lucas Entertainment (Studio)

Lucas Entertainment is a gay pornographic studio started by porn star Michael Lucas.

In 1998 Lucas founded his own production company, Lucas Entertainment, with money he earned from working as a male escort.Oswoski, Kevin (April 22, 2005), [http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/14236 "Adult film producer fleshes out his 'fantasy' at tea"] , "Yale Daily News", retrieved from www.yaledailynews.com on August 31, 2006.] He based the company in New York City (rather than Los Angeles, where many of the other pornography studios are located), in part, to take advantage of the lack of competition.Mao, Tien (June 21,2006), [http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/06/21/michael_lucas_c.php Michael Lucas, CEO Lucas Entertainment] , retrieved December 18 2006 from www.gothamist.com] In 2004, Lucas Distribution, Inc., his adult video distribution company, began operations. Lucas directs, produces and stars in his own films under the Lucas Entertainment banner. His studio has garnered many GayVN Awards [ [http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ci=108&ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=18431 "Michael Lucas’ ’La Dolce Vita’ Sets GAYVN Record"] ] and Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards ("Grabbys") nominations and winsFact|date=September 2007.

In the summer of 2005 Lucas released "Michael Lucas' Dangerous Liaisons"; the film featured celebrity cameos from RuPaul, Boy George, Graham Norton, Bruce Vilanch, Lady Bunny, Amanda Lepore, and Michael Musto. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834930/plotsummary] Plot summary, IMDb] In 2006, the studio released "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita Parts 1 & 2", a gay pornographic remake of the 1960 Fellini classic "La Dolce Vita".List of credits at the [http://www.tlavideo.com/templates/results_list.cfm?pid=31198&v=3&sn=1&g=0 tlavideo] online video store, retrieved from www.tlavideo.com January 9, 2007] The film won a record fourteen awards at the 2007 GayVN Awards, winning in every category in which it was nominated. [ [http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ci=108&ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=18431 "Michael Lucas’ ’La Dolce Vita’ Sets GAYVN Record"] ]

In 2004 Lucas appeared in Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' book "XXX: 30 Porn Star Photographs"cite book
last = Greenfield-Sanders
first = Timothy, Photographer
authorlink =
year = 2005
title = XXX 30 Porn-Star Portraits
publisher = Bulfinch Press |
location = New York, New York
id = ISBN 0821277545] and the accompanying HBO documentary "Thinking XXX". [cite video
people = Greenfield-Sanders, Timothy, Director
title = Thinking XXX
medium = TV Documentary
publisher = HBO
location =
date = 2004 ] Greenfield-Sanders asked Lucas for a list of his 10 favorite films; the 10 films he listed are all films from his own production company.

In February 2007, International Media Films, Inc., which owns the rights to Fellini's "La Dolce Vita", filed suit against Lucas (as Andrei Treivas Bregman), Lucas Entertainment, Inc., and Lucas Distribution, Inc. for trademark and copyright infringement. [cite journal| date=February 15 2007 | title=Copy of Complaint| journal=online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/021507ladolce.pdf] The lawsuit seeks to collect unspecified damages and to stop sales of "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita Parts 1 & 2". [cite journal| date=February 15 2007 |title=NYC film company claims gay porn infringes on film classic 'La Dolce Vita'| journal=International Herald Tribune |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/16/america/NA-GEN-US-Porn-Film-Lawsuit.php] [cite journal| date=February 15 2007 | title=International Media Films, Inc. v. Lucas Entertainment, Inc. et al| journal=dockets.justia.com/docket/court-nysdce |url=http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-nysdce/case_no-1:2007cv01178/case_id-301055] At the preliminary injunction hearing in April, 2007, the attorney for the plaintiff asked the judge to enjoin further distribution of Lucas' film, which he refused to do. [cite journal| date=May 4 2007 | title=Judge Refuses to Enjoin “Michael Lucas’s La Dolce Vita”| journal=blogs.wsj.com |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/05/04/judge-refuses-to-enjoin-michael-lucass-la-dolce-vita/] The Manhattan federal judge hearing the case noted that serious issues were raised regarding trademark infringement or tarnishment, but rejected the request to enjoin the sales of Lucas' film, primarily on the grounds of "inexcusable delay" on the plaintiff's part. [cite journal | date=April 27, 2007 |title=Transcript of judge's ruling| journal=online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents | url=http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/lucas0505.pdf]

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