Following a years-long trademark battle with an Australian designer, Katie Taylor, Katy Perry has won the judgement.
Selling clothes under her birth and brand name Katie Perry, the Aussie fashionista initially won the legal battle in 2024 after the superstar singer started selling merchandise Down Under. However, after the pop star filed an appeal, on Friday (11.22), three appeals judges in Sydney overturned last year’s ruling.
Justifying their ruling, the judges stated that the musician was using her name as a trademark for five years prior to Taylor starting her business, and that Katy had already gained an “international reputation”. The appeal judges also ordered that Taylor’s trademark be taken off the register.
“Whilst some die-hard fans of (Perry) may recognize the incorrect spelling, the ordinary consumer with an imperfect recollection… would be likely to be confused as to the source of the item and wonder whether it was associated with (the performer).” “Both women put blood, sweat and tears into developing their businesses.” “As the fame of one grew internationally, the other became aware of her namesake and filed a trademark application,” wrote the judges.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Taylor admitted she was “devastated” by the decision, adding “I have lost everything, including my trademark.” “My label has been a dream of mine since I was 11 years old and now that dream that I have worked so hard for, since 2006, has been taken away. What do I do now? “I will dust myself off and figure what the next steps are. Perhaps move to somewhere in the world where the name Katie Perry has no meaning.”
Born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson Perry, the chanteuse has yet to comment on the verdict.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Ali Shaker/VOA – Public Domain