A 2017 anonymous post on a BDSM forum claimed that during a Hardtied shoot, Kressler used her safeword—"red"—but the rigger continued for another 45 seconds to “finish the shot.” The poster alleged that Kressler suffered nerve damage in her wrist. No evidence has ever surfaced, and Kressler has never confirmed this.
| Stakeholder | Recommended Action | |-------------|--------------------| | Customers | Review Hardtied’s data‑processing policies; request a data‑access report; consider temporary data‑minimization measures. | | Investors | Request an updated risk assessment from Hardtied’s board; monitor regulatory filings; evaluate exposure in portfolio models. | | Partners & Vendors | Verify that your own DPAs with Hardtied are up‑to‑date; assess whether you need to halt data exchanges pending clarification. | | Regulators | Prioritize a transparent, time‑bound investigation; consider issuing interim guidance for SaaS‑based logistics providers. | | Industry Associations | Use this case to draft best‑practice guidelines for handling micro‑data under KKE. | hardtiedthe violation of kennedy kressler ke
| Jurisdiction | Primary Statutes / Regulations | Core Elements of a Violation |
|--------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------|
| United States (Federal) | • Sherman Act, § 1 (prohibits contracts, combinations, conspiracies restraining trade)
• Clayton Act, §§ 3 & 4 (prevents anticompetitive mergers & exclusive dealing) | 1. Market Power in the tying product (≥ 20‑30 % market share is a strong indicator).
2. Coercive Conditioning – the buyer must buy the tied product to obtain the tying product.
3. Anticompetitive Effect – foreclosure of competitors in the tied‑product market, or price‑raising, reduced innovation, etc. |
| European Union | • Article 101 TFEU (anti‑collusion)
• Article 102 TFEU (abuse of dominant position) | 1. Dominant Position in the tying market.
2. Tying/Hard‑Tie that is essential and excludes competitors.
3. Effect on Trade within the EU. |
| Canada | • Competition Act, s. 45 (abuse of dominant position) | Similar “market power + coercion + anticompetitive effect” test. | A 2017 anonymous post on a BDSM forum
Why “Hard‑Tie” Matters:
Hardtied is not the first logistics‑tech company to run afoul of privacy law, but it is among the largest to be scrutinized under the relatively new KKE framework. A ruling in favor of regulators could set a benchmark for how “micro‑data” (e.g., real‑time location, biometric timestamps) must be treated across the industry. | Jurisdiction | Primary Statutes / Regulations |
A more plausible interpretation: "violation" refers to breach of contract. Several adult performers in the mid-2010s complained that Hardtied’s release forms were overly broad, allowing footage to be reused, remonetized, or clipped for promotional material without additional compensation. Kressler may have been among those who felt her image rights were violated post-performance.