Home : Celebrity Justice : Heidi's New Show -- "Project Ripoff"?

Heidi's New Show -- "Project Ripoff"?

Posted Dec 28th 2007 7:00AM by TMZ Staff

Luxury jewelry designer Van Cleef and Arpels is suing Heidi Klum, claiming that her jewelry company ripped off one of their vintage designs. Can they pin it on her?!

The suit, filed last week in Manhattan federal court, claims that Heidi Klum GmbH and Mouawad USA created and sold a similar clover design from Van Cleef's vintage Alhambra jewelry line. Wait, you can trademark a clover? Notre Dame better watch their back!

Van Cleef and Arpels allege the design is such an obvious copy that it creates "confusion in the marketplace." The lawsuit sites a New York Times article about the Alhambra line from October that says, "Heidi Klum appropriated the clover design for jewelry she designs for Mouawad."

Van Cleef and Arpels is suing for copyright infringement and is seeking damages in excess of $25,000. But that's not all! They want all the infringing goods turned over for destruction -- as well as all advertising materials, catalogs and circulars. Snap!

UPDATE: A rep for Mouawad tells TMZ: "The inspiration for Heidi's collection is the clover-patterned marble inlay at the Duomo Cathedral in Milan which dates back centuries before the formation of Van Cleef & Arpels. Their lawsuit has no merit whatsoever. A number of international houses such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier and now Chopard with their Happy Clover collection are all using their interpretation of the clover in their collections.

"Our collection is another interpretation of the clover motif. The clover as in a cross or heart is not a shape or symbol that anyone company can own. The clover has always been in fashion and it is a popular motif."

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16. the alhambra collection is trademarked. the copyright was re-upped in 2007. the design should be protected. the suit claims copyright and trade dress infringement.

Posted at 11:57AM on Dec 28th 2007 by case closed

17. Response to Jen,
Your vulgar reply and your less-than-brilliant assumptions show that you are clueless as to what copyright infringement means. Indeed - case closed.

Posted at 12:27PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Exene

18. Are they joking?!? Somebody thinks they have a trademark on the clover? Do they also have the heart, star, and are working on the circle right now? Never heard of Van Cleef. Seems to me they're angry because Heidi gets more press for her clovers. Maybe it's the only way they can get press for themelves.

Posted at 12:53PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Lucy

19. RE: Lucy . . . . Yes you are correct. Hiedi Klums image is a mega million dollar business and she's using her image to enter a the Jewlery market. Jewlery manufacturers are incensed that anyone not in the "Jewlers Club" would out shine their BS. Hiedi Klums inner and outer sparkle outshines most, and if her Jewler competition can't take the heat they should "get out of the kitchen" I hope Hiedi Klum wins this BS lawsuit and takes millions and millions in sales away from these whining sueing TURDS.

Posted at 1:27PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Jennifer2000

20. Reply to Jennifer2000

If you want to talk about the "jewelers" club, at least spell it correctly. It has nothing to do with not wanting competition. It's all about protecting a design. If, by some crazy chance, you were ever successful with something you created, wouldnt you want protection from someone outright copying it????? I'm a PR fan and like Heidi Klum - but she is definitely in the wrong here. Maybe Tyra Banks should make a screw bracelet (copying Cartier) and start selling them on her show.

Posted at 1:38PM on Dec 28th 2007 by learn how to spell

21. Actually, Heidi's design is of old gothic church windows from Italy... not really a clover. Atleast that's what she said when she opened her line with Mouawad. I own several pieces of her jewlery and get many compliments on them

Posted at 2:13PM on Dec 28th 2007 by valerie

22. 20. Actually, Heidi's design is of old gothic church windows from Italy... not really a clover. Atleast that's what she said when she opened her line with Mouawad. I own several pieces of her jewlery and get many compliments on them

Posted at 2:13PM on Dec 28th 2007 by valerie

Excuse me folks, but Exene is entirely correct on this one. I have been in the jewelry trade for 30 years, and this is an obvious copyright infringment case. I can assure you Heidi will lose. I'm surprised that no one looked into this more throughly before going ahead with her line. Stupid mistake. I don't think it was her doing, the lawyers should have done their work. As for the above comment by "valerie"....my dear... I heard heidi myself, I believe it was on The View when she first came out with these, come out and say out loud that they were "clovers"...she never called them church windows...perhaps after this she came up with that as some sort of cover story or damage control, but her words are on tape SOMEWHERE and you can bet they'll be played in court for the judge/jury. AND it's not the CLOVER that's copyrighted, it's the specific style, shape etc. You can very easily look them both up for comparison, like I did, and have an AH-HA! moment just like I did! I actually said out loud "Oh no! She's sunk." And, I love Heidi, watch her Bravo show Project Runway, love that she loves her husband and family and truly seems like a good person. I think she was steered in the wrong direction by "handlers" who used her name to make money, I don't believe most of these celebrities who "design" jewelry ACTUALLY DO the designing, but only lend their name to the project for the attention and money it brings. They have actual designers to do that for them. Just as they should have actual copyright lawyers to look into designs PRIOR to going forward with MANUFACTURING a line such as this.
NOW FOR ALL THOSE STILL IN DOUBT, GO COMPARE YOURSELF, AND SEE THE NEARLY IDENTICAL DESIGNS. The 'clover" is NOT copyrighted indeed, as there are many designs of it to be had at all prices and types of jewelry, but this particular DESIGN is for sure. Just as in song lyrics, etc, an artists work is THAT ARTIST'S work alone, and cannot be "taken" without permission, that's what's known in the law as "copyright infringement" and it's illegal!!! Sorry Heidi, SOMEONE done you wrong!! I'm afraid your name on it, tarnishes YOU.

Posted at 2:55PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Reta Itoldyaso!!

23. I always wondered when this would come to light. She obviously ripped Van Cleef off. The design is exactly the same where if you saw them both in store you would not know which was which. She passes herslef off as talented but when you get to bottom of evrythign she does its already been done and she just copies people. In her hair, makeup, way she dresses and now her jewelry. She is an egomaniac and not beautiful like other super models with her bad boob job and corss eyes and think lips. She bugs!

Posted at 3:17PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Kim

24. Exene is right! I own a few VCA vintage pieces and Heidi's copies are a rip off of that design. She should come up with something original. Too bad she's so stupid not to have forseen this lawsuit.

Posted at 7:16PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by diane

25. I like both lines my only thing i will say is why did they wait so long to sue? She made this line prior tp having first child Leni who is almost 4 and if you recall probably spent A LOT of time in Italy of time there prior and for the short few months her and her ex (who is Italian was there.) I mean i can see why they picked Heidi Klum to showcase a line most likely because of her status as an well know person internationally. I love the Van Cleef of Arpels design but it is priced high and for a reason. So you really can not compare the Heidi Klum collection(the one exposed on QVC and priced lower for reatail) to the Van Cleef designs. Different materials are used. I just think on Van Cleef's part action should have taken place sooner and I believe because of the HIGH exposure of Project Runway and her wearing this designs more this year vs. any other season it caused a stir. I am a jewelry person big time but prefer no to wear something the next woman walking behind me will have on also. Last thing to say Heidi Klum collection for QVC looks better or is than the Van Cleef. I think it is what you like personally as syle , but quality the Van Cleef is going to be better because of the process of making those pieces of jewelry. Personal preference and what a person can afford. That's all.

Posted at 12:11PM on Dec 29th 2007 by isabel-louise

26. Heidi did not steal this design; it's been around for centuries.
.
The design is called the QUATREFOIL and it is not a clover but actually a medieval four petaled flower. This shows you how much Van Cleef and Arpels know by calling it a clover. There are numerous variations of this design, some with pointed tips and others where the arch exceeds 180 degrees but the mail design is EXACTLY the same as what most jewelry designer's use. There are over four dozen other jewelry manufacturers and stamping companies actively in business that produce this design. I guess the quatrefoil.com museum needs to change its design as well.
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This lawsuit will make Van Cleef and Arpels look like the fools that they come off as.
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Best wishes Heidi on your new jewelry line. It's a shame it has to be marred by such a firm who might be trying to get free publicity.

Posted at 8:35PM on Jan 1st 2008 by Sparky

27. Concerning my experience by working as a designer for one of the biggest shoe traders/importeurs of Europe I also know the problem of plagiates...the idea of making a jewl. collection basing on the clover can be trademarked in spite of the naturallity of this shape.

Otherwise...which design can you trademark without comparison to natural given shapes? It's the unique idea of using a (wll known?) shape for a special product which you can protect against copying.

w.b.r. Thorsten

PS: Sorry wrong used terms...normally I correspond in German and Chinese...

Posted at 3:41AM on Jan 3rd 2008 by Thorsten (GER)

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