PHOENIX, Ariz.—Arizona-based MN Works, the parent entity of recently launched adult entertainment online directory Slixa, has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court in Arizona against California-based Vibe Media, owners of CityVibe, as well as the president of Vibe Media, Alix Karl, alleging the theft of the look and feel of Slixa’s website.
The complaint, which was filed May 30, claims that Vibe Media, facing increased competition from a better looking and more user friendly alternative, began using Slixa’s look as its own. Specifically, Slixa says that CityVibe has directly copied the layout of their VIP profile pages, leading to market confusion and lost revenue for Slixa. Marc J. Randazza of Randazza Legal Group is representing the plaintiff.
Shortly the launch of the Slixa website,” the complaint asserts, “Defendants stole the format and layout of Slixa’s VIP entertainer profiles and began using a substantively identical profile format for CityVibe’s VIP entertainer profiles. As time passes, Defendants regularly convert more of their advertisements, Particularly their VIP advertisements, to closely resemble the VIP advertisement style developed by, and belonging to, Plaintiff MN Works.
“The resemblance of CityVibe’s VIP advertisements to those created by MN Works for the Slixa website is not accidental,” it continues. “Prior to the launch of the Slixa website, no adult entertainment directory had advertisements that resembled those created by MN Works for Slixa, including CityVibe. However, shortly after the launch of Slixa, CityVibe’s VIP advertisements changed to mimic those created by MN Works for Slixa.”
The complaint further alleges, “Defendants have willfully and maliciously engaged in unauthorized access to, and unauthorized appropriation of, MN Works’ data, information, computers, and computer systems and networks in an effort to copy MN Works’ Slixa website and to handicap MN Works’ ability to emerge as a competitor of Defendants.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, the plaintiff stated, “Slixa’s profile pages rival those of famous centerfold-model layouts, so it’s pretty hard to miss,” “We had a number of customers contact us asking why CityVibe’s new VIP ads suddenly look like our profile pages. In fact, that’s how we initially discovered that Vibe Media had basically repurposed our layouts on their own site.
“The new ‘Slixa style’ VIP ads on this competitor’s site are a direct rip-off of Slixa’s distinctive new design,” the company added “From what we’ve seen, Vibe Media is attempting to mislead internet users to believe that Slixa and CityVibe are related entities, or that Slixa, having just launched their directory, copied the style of CityVibe. This is a tremendous slight to our creative team, [which has] worked hard to produce a truly one-of-a-kind adult services directory.”
Slixa is seeking a court order to take down Vibe Media’s lookalike pages and to stop further infringement, demanding that CityVibe cease using Slixa’s proprietary design. In addition, Slixa has demanded compensation from CityVibe for legal fees and further restitution as decided by the court.
“CityVibe’s infringement warrants at least a public apology,” the company said.
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The complaint can be read here.
