MARFA, Texas — The Judd Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to the legacy of artist Donald Judd, sued reality-television star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian and design firm Clements Design in California federal court on Wednesday, March 27, for allegedly featuring fake versions of his furniture in a YouTube video, and claiming that they were genuine Judd furniture.

"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 said in the video, according to screenshots included in the complaint. 

According to a company statement, "In August 2022, Ms. Kardashian posted a video (with more than 3.7 million views) to her personal YouTube channel, which featured knockoff Donald Judd Furniture, a company of Judd Foundation. The designs included two of Donald Judd’s most renowned designs: La Mansana Table (two tables) and Chair 84 (numerous chairs) that Ms. Kardashian falsely attributed to being “Donald Judd.”

The Judd Foundation said in a statement that they contacted Kardashian’s representatives, who confirmed that the table and chairs were indeed fake. Clements Design, they said, knowingly fabricated and sold the fake designs. Judd Foundation’s attempt to resolve this matter without litigation was met with delays and excuses from Ms. Kardashian and Clements Design. More than a year later, the video of Ms. Kardashian promoting fake furniture attributed to Donald Judd remains available on her YouTube page to millions of followers and the public at large.  

The foundation's lawsuit, said that Kardashian unlawfully described "knockoff" Judd tables and chairs made by Los Angeles-based interior design firm Clements Design as genuine Judd furniture. The complaint accused Kardashian of false endorsement and Clements Design of false advertising, unfair competition and trademark and copyright infringement.

For example, the complaint said: The Kardashian Tables are identical to the DONALD JUDD La Mansana
Table design. They are identical in length, as" specified on Clements Design’s proposal. From the Kardashian Video, they also appear to be identical in width and height. 

However, the Kardashian Tables are made in plywood, a material which Judd Foundation does not authorize for the fabrication of the DONALD JUDD La Mansana Table. The Kardashian Tables bear the DONALD JUDD La Mansana Table’s signature, nonfunctional design components: a composition of flat, rectangular, straight, unadorned pieces; six wide rectangular table legs in an identical formation; legs at the corners that meet in orthogonal fashion and are flush to the table surface; legs that, when displayed
with the DONALD JUDD Chair 84, blend in with the chairs; and a sliver of rectangular skirting beneath the table."

According to the New York Times, Kardashian had no comment on the lawsuit and Clements Design, in a statement to the newspaper, said that there were "obvious key differences" between the furniture design.

"Consumers," the complaint said, "have believed and are likely to believe that Clements Design’s tables and chairs are made by, authorized by, or associated with Judd Foundation and its trademarks and copyrights. Consumers are likely to believe Judd Foundation and the DONALD JUDD brand are connected or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed Ms. Kardashian and her SKKN BY KIM products. The design- and art-loving consumers of both Clements Design and Judd Foundation are the same “furniture people” to whom Ms. Kardashian referred in the Kardashian Video. Those people would expect Ms. Kardashian to own and display authentic—not fake—DONALD JUDD furniture and to have the real and true—not false—endorsements of celebrities, designers, or artists with whom Ms. Kardashian discusses working or mentions by name."

Here are screenshots captured by the Judd Foundation and copied in the complaint: