1. Judd Foundation is suing Kim Kardashian for promoting knockoff furniture as authentic Donald Judd pieces.
2. Kardashian’s designers claim there are key differences in the designs and feel blindsided by the lawsuit.
3. The Foundation demands that Kardashian destroy the furniture, issue a public statement, and face financial and legal penalties.
The Judd Foundation, representing minimalist artist Donald Judd, is suing Kim Kardashian and her designers over a set of tables and chairs in Kardashian’s office that they claim are knockoffs of Judd’s work. The foundation alleges that Kardashian falsely promoted the furniture as Judd pieces in a video tour of her office. These pieces were unauthorized knockoffs produced by Clements Design, according to the complaint.
Kardashian’s designers argue that there are “obvious key differences” between their designs and Judd’s work, and they feel blindsided by the lawsuit. The video showcasing the furniture has been removed from Kardashian’s YouTube channel, and her spokesperson had previously offered to update the video caption with a retraction, which was declined by the foundation.
The Judd Foundation claims that the knockoff furniture includes tables and chairs made of plywood, while authentic Judd pieces are made of hardwood and have significantly higher prices. They also criticize Kardashian for name-dropping other artists to link her brand with Judd’s. The foundation is demanding that Kardashian and her designers destroy the furniture, issue a public statement, and face financial and legal penalties, which Clements Design believes are unreasonable.
While Kardashian may have avoided trouble if she had described the furniture as “Judd-style” rather than suggesting they were authentic, the foundation argues that her intentional association with Judd’s name warrants their strong response. Additionally, they point out similarities between Kardashian’s office design and a display in Texas featuring Judd’s work.