Kim Kardashian sues Alabama 'Orgasm Doctor' for unauthorized use of her name to promote his 'Vampire Facial' center
With the knowledge of the law on her side, Kim Kardashian is all set to sue brands that are making money off her name and image without giving her the due credit or a piece of the profits.
One such entity was an Alabama medical center which became famous in 2013 after Kim tried one of their infamous "Vampire Facials" during an episode of 'Kourtney & Kim Take Miami,' a short-lived spinoff of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashian.'
According to E!, in a lawsuit filed Tuesday against doctor Charles Runels and Cellular Medicine Association, December 10, the 39-year-old's attorney claimed that the medical center was guilty of "copyright infringement, infringement of registered mark, false association, violation of the right of publicity and California common law trademark infringement."
"Defendant Charles Runels is a doctor in Alabama. In characteristically self-promoting fashion, he describes himself alternatively as the 'Orgasm Doctor' and the 'Calvin Klein of medicine,'" the court documents state. "To that end, while he appears to maintain a small practice in Alabama, most of his time is spent touting the various cosmetic procedures he has purported to trademark—including, as relevant here, the Vampire Facial."
Although the mother-of-four had tried out the controversial cosmetic procedure years ago with her sister, Kourtney Kardashian that involved extracting blood out of her body and using it for a facial, the sisters "never licensed their name in connection with the procedure."
As a result, it came as a shock to Kim that her name was being used to promote the practice at the center.
"Upon further investigation, Ms. Kardashian was horrified to discover that her name and likeness were plastered all over Runels' website (www.vampirefacial.com)," the lawsuit continued. "Just below a post disclaiming any association with the Vampire Facial provider from which patients had contracted HIV is a photo captioned, 'Bar [Refaeli] & Kim Receive the Vampire Facial® Procedure.'"
The lawsuit claimed that Runels had been contacted by Kim in the recent past. When he was requested to take down the KKW Beauty mogul's name and photos down from his website, he refused and instead asked for money to comply.
''The Defendants' use of Ms. Kardashian's name and likeness is not, and never has been, authorized. The Defendants have never sought Ms. Kardashian's permission to use her as a 'face' for their products and services, and Ms. Kardashian has never given such permission," the lawsuit said.
The reality star has previously sued brands including, Misguided, and makeup app, iHandy, for millions of dollars for the unauthorized usage of her name and likeness.