According to Dennis Publications Ltd. President Dennis Burkasoff, a letter that arrived from U.K.-based attorneys Simons, Muirhead & Burton today states that the Maxim affiliated Dennis Publishing is suing for transfer of the company’s domain name DennisPublications.com and the legal cost of the action. Burkasoff also said Maxim’s publisher is requesting details on the number of copies R-Rated Magazine had sold and its subscriber base.
Launched early this month, R-Rated magazine is a web-only entertainment publication that covers the adult industry. The magazine bills itself as “an information magazine to support the adult industry” featuring hardcore directors, production companies, distributors, websites and erotic articles shown from a softcore point of view.
Burkasoff said the letter indicated he had seven days to respond before further action would be taken.
“I can’t see any reason for this lawsuit,” Burkasoff told XBIZ. “I won’t respond to it. R-Rated magazine isn’t the same concept as Maxim. They have no legal standing whatsoever.”
Burkasoff has been publishing nude celebrity calendars and a celeb-themed magazine, which he sold in 2003, since 1999.
“If Maxim sees R-Rated Magazine as a competition I only can say that it’s an honor,” Burkasoff said.
A number of adult industry professionals are featured in R-Rated’s premiere issue including Digital Playground CEO Samantha Lewis, DP contract star Jesse Jane, Mark Spiegler, Pietro Lucerni, Pierre Woodman, Louis Moire, Viv Thomas, Roxy Deville and Nella.
Burkasoff said that he will proceed in publishing the next issue of R-Rated Magazine, but has implemented a number of new changes. As a result, R-Rated Magazine will now be known as Adult Internal Quality Lifestyle Magazine (AIQ).
Dennis Publishing Ltd. owns and operates more than 50 magazines, digital magazines, websites and mobile sites in the U.K. including The Week, Monkey, Auto Express, PC Pro, Viz, Maxim and The Week in the U.S. Felix Dennis privately owns Dennis Publishing.
The next issue of R-Rated Magazine is slated for release on Aug. 1.