Heidi Klum is fighting a legal battle with her father over her daughter Leni’s name, after Gunther Klum filed to trademark the 17-year-old’s name.
The former supermodel and America’s Got Talent star and her father are at loggerheads over commercial deals for Heidi’s eldest daughter, who is also a model.
Gunther, 75, has trademarked Leni’s name and registered his paperwork with the European Union in March. He also trademarked Leni’s nickname Mausekatze, which means mouse cat.
Heidi, 47, has fired off a legal challenge to win the rights to Leni’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 (almost R5m) or six months of jail.”
Gunther has insisted he has always dealt with family trademark rights.
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 fell out in 2019 after she tied the knot with rocker Tom Kaulitz.
Meanwhile, Heidi’s ex-husband Seal – who adopted Leni and with whom she has Henri, 15, Johan, 14, and Lou, 11 – recently said he wasn’t happy about his daughter following Heidi’s footsteps into modelling.
He said: “That’s a precarious road to take.”