Digital Playground just released this press release announcing their new contract girl Janie Summers (left). Of course, like many other Digital Playground contract girls before her, she was forced to change her name and go by a name Digital Playground chose for her. Janie is formally known as Heather Starlet. But because she’s not allowed to have her own identity and the domain names have already been bought, she has to now go as Janie Summers. Digital Playground could have simply changed Starlet to Starlette. But that would have been too easy.
You might be asking what’s the problem or if I’m just up to my usual complaining self again. The MAJOR problem is that there was a well known 1980’s porn star known as Jamie Summers (right). Jamie was a Vivid girl and started in the porn industry at 18-years-old and remained in the industry from 1986-1993.
If little ole’ me who is not even a part of this industry knows this bit of information, then how the hell didn’t anyone at Digital Playground not know? Or did they simply not care and think this was their way of trying to take the spotlight away from Vivid? Though Vivid is highly flawed, Digital Playground will never be Vivid.
I checked to see who owns the domain names and it seems Digital Playground only owns JanieSummers.net. The .com is owned by Moniker. Digital Playground didn’t even buy the .org. TNB Entertainment does and they bought the .org a week after Digital Playground bought JanieSummers.net. How could they let the .org slip away?? So what was the point in making this girl change her name if you don’t even own the .com?
I highly doubt Janie even knows who Jamie Summers is. She was offered a contract and thought it was her ticket to being the next Jesse Jane. This shows how much little regard Digital Playground has for their contract girls. It makes Janie look foolish though she might never have heard of Jamie Summers. But the veterans in this industry and the 80’s porn fans sure do know who Jamie Summers is. So not only are porn stars taking a celebrity’s name or changing that celebrity’s name around a bit, now they’re taking already established porn star’s names.
The full press release is after the jump.
DIGITAL PLAYGROUND ANNOUNCES THE EXCLUSIVE SIGNING OF JANIE SUMMERS™
Janie Summers Is Digital Playground’s Newest Contract Girl!
September 3, 2009 — VAN NUYS, Calif. — Digital Playground announces the signing of Janie Summers™ to an exclusive contract. Janie Summers is a great addition to the studio known for hotter girls and higher quality. The all-natural, blond Janie Summers is 20-years-old, 5’7” tall, and 125 lbs, with measurements of 36B-26-36. As a result of her wholesome allure, many will be inclined to label her the girl-next-door. However, after witnessing her sexual prowess in her first Digital Playground movie, everyone will wonder what exactly occurred in the house next door. Janie Summers is ready to be the object of every person’s obsession.
Joone, Digital Playground’s Founder says, “Janie Summers has the X factor to be a huge star in this industry. Her youth and beauty are obvious to all, but what makes her future bright is the way her eyes light up when she performs.”
Eager to get her career underway, Digital Playground’s Janie Summers says, “Thank you so much to Joone and Samantha Lewis for giving me the opportunity to work with the number one studio. I’ve always believed that if you’re going to do something, you better do it right. With that in mind, Digital Playground is the only company that made sense to sign with.”
Janie Summers is an extremely passionate and kinky lover. While she is normally submissive, Janie admits that she is capable of taking charge in the bedroom if the situation calls for it. Janie is often praised for her oral talents. Her favorite position is doggy-style. Of course, the luscious Leo is happy with any sex, as long as it’s hot and frequent. When the Midwestern charmer isn’t busy with her bedroom athletics, she is rooting on her favorite sports teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a former cheerleader, Janie definitely knows how to inspire a man.
About Janie Summers™:
At 20-years-old, the all-natural Janie Summers™ is the sweet blond next door who always has a smile and a giggle. Janie is the bubbly cheerleader whose panties show every time she’s tossed high into the air. Janie is the Midwestern girl shooting hoops on the driveway and making out in the back of a Camaro. Janie is the beauty who haunts men’s memories as they regret never making a move. With the signing of her exclusive Digital Playground contract, guys can stop wondering what could’ve been and start exploring the soft, natural curves of Janie’s perky breasts, the creaminess of her skin, and the sexuality radiating from her blue eyes. Janie Summers is ready to be the object of every person’s obsession. For more information, visit http://tiny.cc/JanieSummersBio
Porn Star Babylon 
Harvey Dent
September 4, 2009
I wonder if Vivid has copyrighted the name of the old Jamie Summers.
iwasthere
September 5, 2009
How? She used that name before signing with Vivid.
Darrah Ford
September 5, 2009
They don’t own any of her domains.
Natal
September 5, 2009
Well, the girls do look kind of similar in those pictures. They might be trying to play off that.
pornsoup
September 6, 2009
The flaw in Joon’s plan is that he is banking on people actually caring or remembering the original Jamie and making the same connection you did. The only thing this is going to accomplish is a series of industry articles like this one speculating on potential Vivid tm violations and annoying Vivid.
Janie is hot and should have a nice run with DP. Maybe Adelle should name her first picture ‘Bratty’
Don Houston
September 6, 2009
“Digital Playground could have simply changed Starlet to Starlette. But that would have been too easy.”
That strategy didn’t work with Tara Patrick when the courts ruled in her favor (the single letter in “Tera” not enough of a change) so why should they try that. I agree that this is likely a ploy to generate some buzz based on Jamie Summers more than anything else. I’m guessing that the lack of ownership of the additional domains is indicative of their belief that she will leave the nest before too long. We’ll see…
tattypattyagain
September 6, 2009
Ummmmmmmm how many noms de porn are homages (okay, rip offs) of other ones? Do a search and see. How many fucking Savannahs and Jennas and whores with ‘Lynn’ tacke on to the end of their names have we seen in the past. This is no big deal…
Don Houston
September 6, 2009
Regarding homages, it has never ceased to amaze me how many performers get upset when they feel someone “steals” their idea by calling themselves something similar. Heck, Tera Patrick is the birth name of Carmen Electra, isn’t it? So the “I thought of it first” game is really annoying to me…
iwasthere
September 6, 2009
Carmen’s real name is close, but is actually Tara Patrick. Someone at DP knew that, must’ve been burned personally by Carmen, who picks an Irish name for a contract star?
Darrah, c’mon open up the marriage and baby thread again. Please.
Darrah Ford
September 6, 2009
You can comment here with whoever else wants to comment. I just know what the comments would turn out to be like. I don’t have a problem with it but would dread knowing they were horrified by the comments especially with the women who are pregnant. Even though I despise Lexxi and feel her getting married is so to funnel her money to the husband before the FBI finally catches up to her. And getting pregnant would be her way of thinking she can worm her way out of prison time. They can’t search the blog for blog comments.
Harvey Dent
September 6, 2009
“who picks an Irish name for a contract star?”
Lets see, Vivid (Meggan Malone).
And there is Jill Kelly but her real name is also Irish so that does not count.
Don Houston
September 6, 2009
Iwasthere, I cut short my initial response but yeah, Tara Patrick is Carmen’s birth name but ALSO the original name used by Tera as a stage name. DP had her change it to Tera and that, along with some legalese, formed the basis for the lawsuit regarding ownership. I had some tape boxes laying around with her name spelled “Tara” from before her contract with DP as well as subsequent re-issues spelling it as Tera from other companies.
It wasn’t someone at DP that picked her original stage name though, she had it when she signed with them. The ties between Carmen go deeper with the Dave Navarro connection too (Carmen’s ex-husband that was later hired by Tera and Evan to direct for them) but that’s another story… lol
Darrah Ford
September 7, 2009
But Don, Heather Starlet is already her name. So changing it to Heather Starlette wouldn’t get anyone sued.
But Carmen Electra doesn’t do porn and she never sued. But Tera and Carmen have issues??
Yeah others have taken one name from a former star. But the first and last name of a former porn star while changing only a letter?? That’s insane! Will porn star names start recycling every 20 years?? I doubt the girl knows but Digital Playground is making a fool out of her and I would be pissed if I was her.
iwasthere
September 7, 2009
Spill, Don, spill.
I’ll bet anything Lexxy is financing Rob’s clothing line. That’ll probably get seized by the government too. Pregnant women go to prison too.
Don Houston
September 7, 2009
I’m not much of a “spiller”, that’s why I get to hear some cool stuff. 😉
DF, several years ago, when I reviewed some of these “brand new” gals, I’d link to their past work or include both their old stage name with the new one in the reviews. It’s less common now but it provided folks with the understanding that the ladies had already shot a bunch of porn under a different name(s). I still do it from time to time but a few companies were not keen on the process, making me believe they wanted to clean the slate with the new name. Thankfully, databases like the IAFD help us all keep track of them too.
But part of the naming process leads me to believe that the companies doing so want that clean slate so they can say a particular movie contains a “first” type of sex act (sharper reviewers catching the hype and commenting on it), but still maintain a level of familiarity, and (hopefully) giving the company something they can copyright/keep when the contract is over. Remember, these companies will still be selling the movies in various formats decades after the performers are gone…
Darrah Ford
September 7, 2009
I don’t think it’s so much a company wanting a clean slate. I hear many times that many of these girls change names because their manager, agent, company, or even a photographer I heard once …. owned the girl’s name. So when she left, the name could never be used by her again. The women don’t think they can sue or don’t have the money to hire lawyers or fear it will ruin their careers. So they just let it go and come up with a new name.
Don Houston
September 7, 2009
A clean slate incorporates that idea too though Digital Playground is one of the few companies ready, willing, and able to afford legal battles (to the point where few challenge them; certainly not managers or agents, lest they find themselves getting less work). If DP is going to pump lots of time & money into a performer, they darned sure want a return on their investment, the websites and other revenue streams a big part of it these days.
RockPepe
September 8, 2009
I asked you in LIB the same Darrah, I am really interested in knowing your opinion about if Janie Summers is the girl that DP needs.
Thanks Darrah 😉
Darrah Ford
September 10, 2009
I didn’t see your question on LIB. But no I don’t think she, or any of the new girls who have gotten contracts, are the future of porn. I think the ‘Porn Star’ is gone. I also found new information on Janie and she will not last in porn and will soon leave. I’ll post that soon.
RockPepe
September 10, 2009
OMG Darrah!! Janie is going to leave DP yet? I am waiting for a interview from her like new contract girl…I am really confused about this you tell me…. anyway Do you like Raven Alexis the very new contract girl in DP? Is she going to leave too? lol
Harvey Dent
September 10, 2009
I like Raven Alexis. Since Rio is baking one in the oven and Stoya is in limbo, they need a good looking brunette ASAP.
RockPepe
September 11, 2009
Raven Alexis is very nice, I talked with her via my space, I really didn’t now nothing about her, She has a cool web site, eventhough I am afraid that most of the contents are shooted with her husband 😦
Does anybody where is Rio? My last news from her is in Florida, No idea is she is pregnant or not 😉
Harvey Dent
September 11, 2009
Supposely baking a egg in the oven in Florida.
iwasthere
September 11, 2009
It was easy to see that one coming.
RockPepe
September 13, 2009
LOL
Darrah Ford
September 13, 2009
Not leave Digital Playground but leave porn all together. She’s done it before. I still haven’t posted it but will soon.
RockPepe
September 13, 2009
I am stoked 😛 I will wait anger your post about it 😉 Thanks Darrah 🙂
Darrah Ford
September 15, 2009