The Dallas company known for advertisements saying “we buy ugly houses” is suing HGTV’s parent company over one of its latest home renovation shows.
HomeVestors of America Inc. filed a lawsuit Monday in Delaware federal court against Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., claiming that HGTV’s show Ugliest House In America infringes its trademark rights for its annual contest “The Ugliest House of The Year.”
In the show, comedian Retta, who uses just one name professionally, travels to properties that their owners nominated as the ugliest in the country and awards the winner with a $150,000 makeover.
“The show mocks owners and their homes for odd design choices, often labeling the homes as ‘heinous’ or ‘grotesque,’” HomeVestors said in a statement.
The HomeVestors contest features homes its franchisees purchased and renovated each year, highlighting one dramatic home makeover as the winner. HomeVestors said the names of the HGTV show and the contest are confusingly similar and “confuse the harm and goodwill associated with its brand.”
“(HGTV’s) attempt to turn poor housing design into a comedy show reflects poorly on the homeowners and on the concept of home remodeling,” the lawsuit states. “This runs counter to HomeVestors’ brand image, which focuses on helping rehab homes that have fallen into disrepair and helping homeowners out of ‘ugly situations.’”
HGTV spokeswoman Audrey Adlam said the network is unable to comment on pending litigation.
In June 2020, production company Big Fish Entertainment reached out to HomeVestors saying it was producing an ugly-house series for HGTV and that there could be opportunities for a collaboration, according to the lawsuit. But in August, according to HomeVestors, Big Fish told HomeVestors that they would be putting that conversation “on hold.”
HGTV then premiered Ugliest House in America earlier this year, “without further discussion,” the lawsuit says. It was renewed in July, according to media reports.
HomeVestors has bought more than 125,000 homes throughout the U.S. since it was founded in 1996. The company’s 1,100-plus independently owned and operated franchisees buy, rehab, sell and hold residential properties in 176 markets.
