If you sell explicit content of yourself online, the most common questions about 2257 compliance have the same root: nobody tells you straight whether the law applies to you, what you actually have to keep, and what it costs to do it properly. Here are direct answers. No scare tactics, no pretending the alternatives don't exist.
1. Do solo creators really need 2257 records?
Yes. If you produce explicit content showing your own face or body, 18 U.S.C. § 2257 applies to you. The statute defines a "producer" as anyone involved in creating the actual sexually explicit material. Publishing through OnlyFans, Fansly, ManyVids, or Clips4Sale does not transfer that obligation. Those platforms keep *their* records as a secondary producer. You remain the primary producer of your own content.
The minimum the law requires:
- A copy of a valid government-issued ID for every performer, including yourself
- A signed model or content release
- A record of every depiction (date produced, where it is published)
- A 2257 statement on every page where the content appears, naming a Custodian of Records and listing a physical address
- Records retained for 7 years after the last date of publication
Penalties for non-compliance reach up to 5 years federal imprisonment for a first offense under § 2257(i). In day-to-day terms, payment-processor de-platforming is the more common consequence. For the full picture, see the complete guide to 2257 compliance.
2. Doesn't OnlyFans (or Fansly, ManyVids, etc.) handle this for me?
No. They handle *their* end. When OnlyFans verifies you, they are verifying you for *their* secondary-producer obligation. They are not maintaining your records on your behalf.
The clearest test: when you switch platforms or post the same content in more than one place, what do you take with you? Your own records, or theirs? You cannot subpoena OnlyFans for *your* 2257 records. They have their records, with their corporate Custodian, not yours. We go deeper on this in Do OnlyFans creators need 2257 records?.
3. What does Easy2257 actually do, and what does it cost?
The Solo Creator plan is $120/year (about $10/month), and your first year is $12 with code COVERME ($1/month for year one). For that, the plan covers:
- ID verification and secure storage: government ID images stored encrypted, SHA-256 hashed
- Content log: every depiction tracked with date, type, platform, and where it is published
- Your own 2257 statement page: a URL you can link from your content on any platform
- Custodian of Records service: Easy2257 acts as your COR, so your home address never has to appear on a public statement
- Takedown portal: a public intake at /report/removal so anyone depicted in your content has a compliant path to request removal under DMCA, card-network rules, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act
- Monthly compliance reports: auto-generated each month for your records
- Compliance archive: generate a ZIP on demand with every record (IDs, releases, depictions, cross-reference index, monthly reports, and a manifest with SHA-256 hashes) for counsel or a processor audit
Every feature is the full plan, not a trial tier.
4. What about Visa VIRP and Mastercard AN 5196?
Both card networks now require adult-content merchants to maintain documented compliance programs, and these rules are *separate from* federal § 2257. Meeting one does not automatically meet the other.
In practice, your payment processor will act on a card-network gap long before the DOJ inspects you for a federal one. The Solo flow is built to satisfy both, so you do not have to track parallel programs. If a processor sends you a compliance review, the archive export from question 3 is the document set you hand over. For the details, see the guides on Visa's VIRP and Mastercard's AN 5196.
5. Is Easy2257 the right choice for me?
It depends on what you need. An honest read:
- You are a solo creator who needs IDs, a content log, and a statement page: Easy2257 Solo Creator is built for exactly this, at $120/year.
- You are a multi-performer studio with collaborators: you need a per-scene workflow with a signed model-release gate. That is the Producer or Studio tier, not Solo.
- You only want a digital release-signing tool with no record-keeping: a signature-first product may fit better. See our Easy2257 vs. SnapSign comparison.
- You already have a custodian or lawyer and just want software: a more white-label option may suit you. See Easy2257 vs. Olys and Easy2257 vs. Sirency.
If you are a solo creator with content live on a major platform and you do not currently have a 2257 statement page or a designated COR, you are the exact person the Solo Creator plan was built for.
6. What happens to my data if I cancel?
Records are retained for 7 years after your subscription ends. That is the federal § 2257 retention requirement (28 CFR 75.4), not a Easy2257 policy choice. You can request a final compliance archive (the ZIP from question 3) at any point. We cannot delete records before the 7-year mark even if you ask us to, because the regulation prohibits early deletion. After 7 years, records are deleted under the retention guard.
7. Is Easy2257 affiliated with any platform?
No. Easy2257 is an independent compliance service. We integrate with platforms that want to offer us as their Custodian of Records through our Partner API, but as a creator you can use Easy2257 regardless of which platforms you publish on. Your records and your COR designation belong to you, not to a platform.
8. How do I sign up?
- Go to easy2257.com/auth/register
- Choose Solo Creator - Annual
- Enter code COVERME at checkout for $12 your first year
- Pay and your records are live immediately
If you publish 2257 guidance to your own audience and want to recommend Easy2257, you can join the affiliate program at easy2257.com/partner/signup and earn 20% recurring commission on every subscriber who signs up through your link.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance specific to your situation. COVERME applies to the Solo Creator annual plan only and may end at any time without notice.