Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Licensing dispute with AVS Products
Playboy terminated a license agreement with AVS Products and later sued over alleged unpaid license fees and unauthorized sales. The dispute highlighted the commercial and reputational risks involved in controlling a widely licensed trademark.
2020
Playboy sues Fashion Nova over bunny costume
Lawsuit filed
Playboy filed a lawsuit against Fashion Nova alleging trademark infringement over a bunny costume that Fashion Nova was selling. According to the source, Playboy had sent Fashion Nova a cease-and-desist notice, and Fashion Nova continued selling the costume. The report describes the dispute as centered on the costume and on Playboy's claim of trademark infringement.
Playboy is suing Fashion Nova for alleged trademark infringement over a bunny costume Fashion Nova was selling. The source also says Playboy had sent Fashion Nova a cease-and-desist notice and that Fashion Nova continued selling the costume.
Source excerpt
TMZ reports Playboy is suing Fashion Nova for trademark infringement for stealing their iconic costume.
Fashion Nova's bunny costume, includes cuffs, collar, bowtie, corset, ribbon name tag, bunny ears and tail and are for sale on the website.
2020
Playboy sues Meredith and service companies over subscriber-data losses
Lawsuit filed
Playboy sued Meredith, Pubworx Services and Specialists Marketing Services, alleging that subscriber information had been improperly disclosed and seeking indemnification for losses related to a separate subscriber privacy suit.
Company response
Denial — Meredith
The lawsuit, which involves work performed by TCS (Time Customer Service) when it was owned by Time Inc., is completely without merit and we plan to fight it vigorously.
Source excerpt
Playboy alleges that TCS and ProCirc disclosed subscriber data for Michigan subscribers to Specialists Marketing Services, which provided services, including the management and rental of Playboy's subscriber list, to Playboy during 2016.
Playboy is suing Meredith and two other companies and seeking millions of dollars of damages it suffered for losses related to a separate subscriber privacy suit.
In a suit filed in New York state court last week, Playboy alleges that Meredith, Pubworx Services and Specialists Marketing Services improperly disclosed the information of Playboy magazine subscribers to third parties in violation of Michigan law.
2019
Subscriber-data privacy class action
A class action alleged that Playboy Enterprises shared subscriber information without adequate consent. The case was reported as settling for approximately $3.85 million in 2020. The matter raised privacy, data-sharing, and compliance concerns for the company’s publishing and digital businesses.
2009
Workplace harassment and discrimination litigation
Playboy Entertainment Group faced litigation alleging sexual harassment and discriminatory workplace conduct involving employees of its television operations. A Los Angeles jury later returned a verdict involving harassment and punitive damages. The case contributed to criticism of the gap between Playboy’s public sexual-liberation image and reported workplace conditions.
1960
Censorship and obscenity opposition
Playboy faced sustained opposition from religious groups, local censorship campaigns, and authorities that objected to its nude photography and sexual content. In some markets, distribution was restricted or banned. The controversy became part of the brand’s public identity and reinforced its association with free-expression debates.