According to this NYT story, Playboy Magazine is preparing a future photo spread on the "Women of Starbucks." It'll be kind of like the "Women of Enron" issue, only the steamy-hot barista babes are employed and jacked up on fat-free macchiatos. Evidently, news of the pending project has the coffee company whipped into a frothy boil — Starbucks stated earlier today that it "is not affiliated with this project and does not endorse it."
[Playboy spokesperson Theresa] Hennessey said that while Playboy had not approached Starbucks beforehand, it was sensitive to copyright and trademark issues.
"However we use or title the piece, we'll be using it within the boundaries of fair use of trademark law. By saying 'Women of Starbucks,' that's using it an a descriptive manner within the boundaries of fair use," she said.
"If the girls want to submit their photos and want to do something in their off time, they should be able to do that."
Link to NYT story (registration required),
Discuss (Gracias, Reverse Cowgirl)
