The 'America's Got Talent' judge is embroiled in a legal feud with her dad and former manager Gunther over the trademark of her oldest daughter's name.
- May 31, 2021
AceShowbiz - Heidi Klum is in a bizarre legal tussle with her dad over her daughter Leni's name.
The "America's Got Talent" star and her father, Gunther, are at loggerheads over commercial deals linked to the teenage model.
Gunther has reportedly trademarked Leni's name and nickname, Mausekatze, which means mouse cat, and registered paperwork with the European Union in March (21), and now his daughter has fired off a legal challenge to try and win the rights to her girl's name.
German lawyer Stephan Ruben told Bild newspaper, "Should Gunther Klum violate the rights of third parties he will be threatened with an injunction, which, if granted, will cost him €250,000 or six months of jail. So far there is no injunction but the lawyers threatened him with it."
Gunther insists he has always dealt with family trademark rights and, because Leni is named after his own mother, he believes the rights to her name should belong to him. He told the Sunday Mirror newspaper, "I requested the trademark of Leni months ago. She has her name from my mother Leni. The rights to the trademark Leni Klum are with me."
Heidi was previously managed by her father until they reportedly fell out in 2019 after she wed Tokio Hotel rocker Tom Kaulitz.
Meanwhile, Heidi's ex-husband Seal recently said he wasn't happy about his daughter following mum into modelling, calling it "a precarious road to take."
He also recently admitted he struggled to co-parent his kids with Heidi because the former married couple lacked of teamwork.
