In a long-running legal battle, pop star Katy Perry recently won an appeal in Australia against fashion designer Katie Perry, whose real name is Katie Taylor. The dispute centered on Taylor’s 2008 Australian trademark for “Katie Perry,” which she used for her clothing brand. Taylor accused Perry of infringing this trademark by selling Katy Perry-branded merchandise during her tours in Australia.
Initially, an Australian court ruled in favor of Taylor in 2023. However, on November 22, 2024, an appeals court reversed this decision. The judges determined that Katy Perry had established an international reputation using her name as a trademark before Taylor registered hers. They ruled that Perry acted in good faith during her use of the trademark in Australia and noted that Taylor filed her trademark after becoming aware of the singer’s global fame. The court canceled Taylor’s trademark, citing potential consumer confusion due to both parties using similar branding.
This case highlights the complexities of intellectual property disputes, especially when involving famous personalities and pre-existing trademarks.
