Python Pictures has issued a recall for Maximum Hard and Stuffed Hard as part of a voluntary settlement that the adult production company has come to with Dennis Publishing, Inc., the publishers of Maxim and Stuff, the two magazines that Python intended to parody with the box covers of the aforementioned titles.
Dennis Publishing had filed a lawsuit on April 25 against Anarchy Films, which distributes Python, Python Pictures, and "others," claiming that both the VHS and DVD covers of both magazines infringed upon their copyrights and trademarks. There were no problems with the actual content of the titles.
A statement from Dennis Publishing informs that Judge Robert Sweet of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order barring the defendants "from, in any manner, either directly or indirectly, manufacturing, distributing, offering for sale, selling, advertising [or] promoting," the Maximum Hard and Stuffed Hard videos.
The voluntary settlement the parties have come to now makes a trial unnecessary.
Python is requesting that all copies of the titles be sent back to them for full credit. Python intends to repackage the titles, with a cover design that still gives the impression of a magazine, and send them back to the distributors that have purchased them. However, if distributors are do not wish the newly packaged titles, Python is prepared to give full monetary credit.
"Please do not sell them as it may be considered a violation of a court order," read a statement released to the press by Python.
Python representatives have confirmed that there are approximately 5,000 copies of Maximum Hard be recalled. The first volume in the series streeted on March 19.
It is unclear at this time how many copies of Stuffed Hard were distributed.
The parody is limited to the cover of Maxim and Stuffmagazine. Each new release in the Maximum Hardcoreseries was intended to mock the previous months edition of Maxim, while Stuffed Hard was intended to mock the previous issue of Stuff
Directed by Corey Jordan, the first video in the series featured Cindy Crawford on the box cover, mimicking a pose by Christina Aguilara that was used on a cover of an issue of Maxim magazine.
The cover of Maximum Hard helped the new production company get some exposure on national TV - they recently taped a segment for The Anna Nicole Show.
Dennis Publishing executives had no other comment than the statement they released, which referred only to matters of public record.
Dennis Publishing also publishes Blender, Fashion, The Week and other publications.
Python requests that all DVDs and videos of the two titles be returned to: Python Productions at 20850 Dearborn Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311.
