Clark Smith Villazor LLP Files Trade Secret, Copyright Infringement, and Unfair Competition Complaint on Behalf of Client Maxim, Inc. Against Playboy

January 21, 2026

On January 20, 2026, Clark Smith Villazor LLP filed a Complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of its client, Maxim, Inc., against Playboy, Inc. for Playboy’s unlawful misappropriation and copying of Maxim’s trade secrets and copyrighted works.  Since 2018, Maxim has run an acclaimed and popular online modeling contest, the Cover Girl Competition that has become even more successful after Maxim invested considerable resources to develop innovative and proprietary tournament technologies, formatting, and rules.

The Complaint alleges that, observing Maxim’s success, Playboy embarked on an unlawful scheme to copy Maxim’s competition platform and roll out a copycat product in 2025 with information that Playboy misappropriated from Maxim to siphon online competition participation away from Maxim and dilute Maxim’s brand. The Complaint alleges that Playboy’s misconduct constitutes misappropriation of Maxim’s trade secrets, copyright infringement, and unfair competition, among other unlawful acts.

In a Law360 article (subscription required) “Maxim Says Playboy Ripped Off its Modeling Contest,” Christopher Clark said “Maxim will protect its intellectual property against any wrongdoer in any forum at all times.” Clark Smith Villazor LLP seeks to enjoin Playboy from running its online modeling contest using Maxim’s proprietary information and to recovery monetary damages for Playboy’s misconduct.