International pop superstar Katy Perry has emerged victorious in a lengthy trademark dispute against Australian fashion designer Katie Jane Taylor, stemming from her decade-old Prism tour.
The U.S. singer, whose real name is Katheryn Hudson, successfully appealed a 2023 Federal Court ruling that claimed her company, Kitty Purry, had infringed on Taylor’s trademark during Perry’s 2014 Australian tour. The legal saga began when Taylor filed a lawsuit in October 2019, over a decade after Perry started selling merchandise, including clothing, under her own name.
Taylor had been marketing her own clothing line under the “Katie Perry” label since 2007, inspired by a trip to Italy. However, a recent ruling by three appellate judges unanimously overturned the previous findings, ordering the deregistration of Taylor’s trademark. They characterized the case as an “unfortunate one,” noting that both women had independently built their businesses under their respective names.
The judges acknowledged the hard work both women had invested, stating, “Both women put blood, sweat, and tears into developing their businesses.” They added that as Perry’s fame grew internationally, Taylor became aware of her namesake and subsequently filed a trademark application.
The court found that Perry used her name as a trademark in good faith during her 2014 tour and had been doing so for five years prior to Taylor’s launch. Furthermore, the court ruled that Perry’s name was used honestly on merchandise sold in Australia.
The case took a personal turn when Perry expressed her desire to remain uninvolved in the trademark dispute. In a May 2009 email, she instructed her talent agent to “keep me outta it entirely,” referring to the situation as “silliness.”
The judges concluded that Taylor’s trademark was deceptively similar to the Katy Perry brand, likely causing confusion among consumers. While fans might notice the slight spelling difference, the average consumer could mistakenly associate Taylor’s clothing with the U.S. pop star.
In response to the ruling, Taylor expressed devastation and heartbreak. “This case proves a trademark isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” she lamented. She emphasized that her fashion label has been her lifelong dream since age 11 and now feels that dream has been unjustly taken from her. Taylor indicated she would consult with her legal team to explore potential next steps.
Perry’s legal team declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the pop icon is set to tour Australia for the first time in six years in June, following a brief visit in September to perform at the AFL grand final.
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