Katy Perry wins trademark dispute against Australian designer Katie Jane Taylor
Pop superstar Katy Perry has emerged victorious in a lengthy trademark battle against Australian fashion designer Katie Jane Taylor, who operates under the brand name “Katie Perry.” The legal dispute, which has been ongoing for years, centered around Taylor’s registration of the “Katie Perry” trademark in 2008, while Perry has used her stage name for merchandise since 2009.
The case came to a head when Taylor filed a lawsuit against Perry in 2014, claiming trademark infringement after the pop star sold merchandise bearing her name during her Australian tour. Although an Australian court initially sided with Taylor in 2023, an appeals court recently overturned the ruling in Perry’s favor. The appellate judges unanimously agreed that Perry’s use of her name on merchandise was fair, given her early registration of the trademark in 2009, five years before Taylor’s fashion label came into existence.
In its decision, the court also noted that Taylor was fully aware of Perry’s global fame before she registered her brand, and rejected a proposal from Perry to negotiate a “coexistence agreement” — a proposal that would have allowed both parties to operate in the market without conflict. The court described Taylor’s dismissal of this offer as a missed opportunity for a peaceful resolution.
As part of the ruling, the court revoked Taylor’s trademark registration and ordered her to pay Perry’s legal costs.
Taylor, clearly disheartened by the ruling, expressed her frustration in a statement: “Ever since I was 11 years old, I’ve dreamed of having my own fashion label. And now that dream, which I’ve worked so hard for since 2006, has been taken away from me.” She further remarked, “A trademark is not worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Perry, who has not commented publicly on the case, remains focused on her career and business ventures.
The ruling marks the end of a protracted legal battle, securing Perry’s ability to continue using her name for merchandise without the threat of legal action from Taylor.
