Katy Perry Wins Trademark Appeal Against Australian Designer Katie Perry; Details Inside
The pop star successfully overturned a prior ruling, with judges stating her international fame preceded the designer’s trademark.
Katy Perry has emerged victorious in a long-running legal battle with Australian fashion designer Katie Taylor, who operates under the brand name "Katie Perry." On November 22, a panel of three appeals judges unanimously ruled in favor of the singer, overturning a 2023 decision that had previously favored Taylor.
The dispute began in 2019 when Taylor sued Perry for trademark infringement, claiming the singer’s merchandise from her 2014 Australian tour violated the designer’s trademark, registered in 2008. In April 2023, a judge initially sided with Taylor, ruling that Perry’s merchandise breached the trademark.
However, the appeals court found that Perry had already established an "international reputation" by 2008, citing the release of her hit single “I Kissed a Girl” earlier that year. The judges concluded that Perry’s use of her name in Australia was legitimate and in good faith, particularly during her 2014 Prism tour.
The court also highlighted that Perry’s legal team had sent Taylor a “cease and desist” letter in 2009, suggesting a “coexistence agreement,” which Taylor rejected. The judges noted that Taylor’s refusal led to the current outcome, stating, “[Taylor] has brought this result on herself.”
Adding to Perry’s victory, the court canceled Taylor’s trademark registration, citing her actions as potentially misleading to consumers by capitalizing on Perry’s fame. The ruling acknowledged the challenges both women faced, stating, “Both women put blood, sweat, and tears into developing their businesses.”
While the ruling represents a significant win for Perry, Taylor expressed her devastation, claiming the decision stripped her of everything she had worked for since 2006. "My fashion label has been a dream of mine since I was 11 years old, and now that dream has been taken away,” Taylor said. Despite the emotional fallout, the ruling sets a precedent on the complexities of trademarks in the global entertainment and business industries.
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