A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against Happy Mutants, the parent company of the popular website Boing Boing.

Back in November 2017, Playboy Entertainment Group sued Boing Boing, accusing it of violating the company’s copyright when, in February 2016, the website simply linked to a separate online collection of "Every Playboy Playmate Centerfold Ever." That portfolio, which was hosted on Imgur, has since been removed. Imgur did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment.

Because Boing Boing has advertising on its site, Playboy argued, it is profiting from those unauthorized images.

However in a Wednesday order, US District Judge Fernando Olguin slammed Playboy Entertainment in polite legalese.

"The court is skeptical that plaintiff has sufficiently alleged facts to support either its inducement or material contribution theories of copyright infringement," he wrote.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which represents Boing Boing in the case, said in a blog post that it was "puzzled" as to why Playboy brought the case in the first place.

"Today's decision leaves Playboy with a choice: it can try again with a new complaint, or it can leave this lawsuit behind," Daniel Nazer, an EFF attorney, wrote. "We don't believe there's anything Playboy could add to its complaint that would meet the legal standard. We hope that it will choose not to continue with its misguided suit."

Playboy is allowed to re-file the case, addressing the judge’s concerns, by February 26.

Stephen Doniger, one of the lawyers representing Playboy Entertainment, did not immediately respond to Ars' request for comment.