FRANKFURT, GERMANY — When Joe Francis and Larry Flynt told the American media that the government owed it to itself to financially fluff a sluggish adult entertainment industry, they may or may not have meant it as an elaborate joke. Regardless of its potential for subtle political satire, the request has been taken seriously by many – and inspired a copycat move in Germany.Although Flynt and Francis asked for five million requested domestically in order “to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America,” erotic trade federation representative Uew Kaltenberg isn’t suggesting a specific figure.

Instead, Kaltenberg informed regional newspaper Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung that “Economic aid would be judicious” in order to help struggling retail shops and video producers.

Unlike the United States, Kaltenberg explained that the German sector is made up primarily of small and medium-sized companies that could benefit from financial assistance that could be invested in things including continuing education.

Like many within the erotic industry, Kaltenberg is pragmatic about the chance of any real assistance, pointing out that Opel, the European arm of the General Motors automobile manufacturing empire, was the first Euro carmaker to ask for $1.3 billion in handouts.

“The rescue of Opel is a better draw during an election than support for the small and medium-sized companies in our sector,” he admitted.

According to Kaltenberg, “German porn films are in significant decline,” primarily due to the influence of free and pirated content available online.