Picture this, Kim Kardashian — your company has just been hit with a massive lawsuit.
Kardashian’s company, Kimsaprincess, was named in a $100 million patent-infringement lawsuit over a line of LuMee selfie cases that Kardashian endorses.
In the suit, filed in federal court in California on Monday, Snap Light and Hooshmand Harooni, say that the selfie cases — described as “smartphone cases that provide bright, even lighting for capturing photos or video” in the lawsuit — are a ripoff of Harooni’s creation.
“Ms. West’s endorsement is not a shill; she is also an ‘official’ partner with LuMee and has designed cases for LuMee,” the lawsuit reads. “However, Ms. West’s endorsement and her … pecuniary gain have come at the expense of Plaintiffs — patent infringement. Mr. Hooshmand Harooni, the inventor of the ‘644 patent, is the true pioneer and innovator of illuminated selfie cases.”
According to the suit, Harooni obtained his patent in 2013, with Snap Light obtaining the exclusive rights to it in January 2017.
LuMee distributor Urban Outfitters is also named in the suit, which contends that the LuMee line has made it “extremely difficult” for Snap Light to compete in the marketplace.
“Despite having superior, patented products, it has been extremely difficult for Snap Light to compete in the selfie case market against Ms. West’s product influence and Defendants’ ongoing infringement,” the suit reads. “Snap Light and Mr. Harooni have suffered financially as a result.”
How much alleged suffering are they taking about? A lot, as it turns out — in addition to an order preventing plaintiffs from infringing on the patent, the suit seeks an “award of $100 million to Snap Light of its lost profits or a reasonably royalty for Defendants’ sales, use, and/or endorsement of the Accused Products, subject to proof at trial.”
“The patent lawsuit filed by Snap Light has no merit and is just another attempted shakedown,” a Kardashian representative told TheWrap in a statement. “Kim has done absolutely nothing wrong.”
In its own statement, LuMee asserted that it was the “first to market” with illuminated cell phone cases.
“LuMee was disappointed to learn about the lawsuit filed against Kim Kardashian West by Snap Light, LLC, alleging patent infringement with regard to her involvement with LuMee. The lawsuit has no merit and Kim has done nothing wrong,” the company said. “LuMee is an innovator of illuminated cell phone cases and was the first to market. Between its patents, copyrights and trademarks, LuMee has developed substantial intellectual property rights surrounding its product line. LuMee is currently asserting patent infringement against Snap Light in the District of Delaware.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.