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Hanky Panky slaps Victoria’s Secret with trademark suit

Victoria’s Secret is engaging in some serious “hanky panky,” a new lawsuit claims.

Up-and-coming rival Hanky Panky Ltd. filed a trademark-infringement lawsuit against the lingerie giant in Manhattan federal court on Friday, claiming Victoria’s Secret recently ripped off both the name of its “After Midnight” clothing line and the catchphrase “indulge your inner flirt” it uses to peddle panties and other sexy accessories.

Manhattan-based Hanky Panky, which the suit notes is best known for “inventing its famous and distinctive lacy thong panty,” says it created the “After Midnight” collection of sexy lingerie in 2010 and trademarked the name.

The collection has been a huge hit with the fashion press and boasts g-strings, bras, teddies and “sexual accessories such as lubricants and candles,” the suit claims.

The company has relied on its “indulge your inner flirt” slogan since 2003 to sell merchandise.

Hanky Panky recently began incorporating the catchphrase into promotions for the “After Midnight” assortment of unmentionables — only to have Victoria’s Secret ignore trademark law and launch its own “After Midnight” collection, the suit says.

Reps for both Hanky Panky and Victoria’s Secret did not immediately return messages.