It’s getting ugly.
Dallas-based HomeVestors—a national home buying franchise known for its “We Buy Ugly Houses” campaign—is suing HGTV over its show “Ugliest House in America.”
HomeVestors filed a lawsuit yesterday against HGTV’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., saying the show violates the intellectual property rights of HomeVestors’ “The Ugliest House Of The Year” trademark.
HGTV’s “Ugliest House in America” premiered on January 3, 2022, as a limited five-episode series hosted by the comedian Retta. But it proved so popular, it’s been renewed twice, with a third, six episode-season slated to premiere in early 2023.
‘Heinous’ and ‘grotesque’ design choices
HomeVestors claims the show mocks homeowners’ “heinous” and “grotesque” design choices in a manner that “does not align with HomeVestors’ values or brand identity.”
“While confusingly similar in name, the HGTV show is vastly different from the HomeVestors’ [Ugliest House of the Year] contest, which features homes its franchisees have purchased and then showcases one dramatic home makeover as the winner,” HomeVestors said in a statement.
“Because HGTV refused to respect HomeVestors’ trademark rights, despite repeated requests to do so, HomeVestors was forced to file suit to stop Warner Bros. Discovery from continuing to confuse the public and harm the goodwill associated with HomeVestors’ brand,” HomeVestors added.
The Dallas-based company says it’s spent more than 25 years building its brand, with more than 125,000 houses bought since 1996—adding that it recruits, trains and supports more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchisees who buy, rehab, sell, and hold residential properties.
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