Kim Kardashian might find her legal studies paying off shortly. The veteran TV personality and mogul is being sued.
The Judd Foundation, a non-profit honoring artist Donald Judd, filed a lawsuit against Kim in California federal court on Wednesday for allegedly showcasing counterfeit versions of his furniture in a YouTube video.
The foundation’s lawsuit claimed that Kardashian wrongly labeled imitation Judd tables and chairs from Los Angeles-based Clements Design as authentic Judd furniture. Allegations included Kardashian’s false endorsement and Clements Design’s false advertising, unfair competition, as well as trademark and copyright infringement.
Rainer Judd, President of the Judd Foundation and daughter of the artist, emphasized the significance of Judd’s furniture as a fundamental aspect of his legacy. In a statement, she said that the “existence of inauthentic furniture undermines the integrity of his original work.”
Judd, a key figure in minimalist art until his death in 1994, is known for his works displayed at prestigious museums such as New York’s Museum of Modern Art and London’s Tate Modern. The foundation sells his furniture designs, strictly following Judd’s exact specifications.
Kim Kardashian is Being Sued For Misidentifying Designer Furniture in a Video Tour
The complaint states that Kardashian’s skincare company SKKN by Kim hired Clements Design to create tables and chairs in Judd’s style for its offices. Kardashian supposedly showcased the counterfeit furniture in a 2022 YouTube office tour.
“If you guys are furniture people — because I’ve really gotten into furniture lately — these Donald Judd tables are really amazing and totally blend in with the seats,” Kardashian is alleged to have said in the footage, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit claimed that numerous media outlets inaccurately stated that the office showcased Donald Judd’s furniture, misleading consumers to believe that the furniture originated from the Judd Foundation. This implied an association or endorsement by Mr. Judd and the Donald Judd brand with Kardashian and her company.
The foundation stated that suing was necessary as Clements Design and Kim Kardashian persisted in keeping the video and did not comply with requests for corrective advertising.
Kim Kardashian Routinely Shows Off Her Lavish Office on Social Media
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian routinely boasts of her Los Angeles SKKN office space. In January, Kim treated her TikTok followers to another glimpse of her office. She kicked it off by highlighting a particular wall adorned with numerous framed magazine covers.
“I’m Kim Kardashian. Of course, I have all my magazine covers covering my walls,” she says in the video as she steps past the wall. She guided the camera to her glam room, showcasing a mannequin on display.
“I’m Kim Kardashian. Of course, I have a custom mannequin with my custom measurements in my glam room,” she said. Her language is odd because she was taking part in a viral TikTok challenge.
The video proceeded as Kim proudly showcased her expansive TV wall adorned with a collection of photos from her past. “I’m Kim Kardashian. Of course, I have my beauty campaigns on a loop on a big TV wall,” she added. “Of course,” the video ultimately was to plug a makeup line.