Australian Fashion Designer Katie Perry Initially Wins Her Lawsuit Against Katy Perry
The 40-year-old former American Idol judge has been embroiled in a legal battle with Australian fashion designer Katie Jane Taylor since 2019. Taylor reportedly sold clothing under her birth name 'Katie Perry' since 2007, and sued the "I Kissed a Girl" singer, real name Katheryn Hudson, in 2019 for selling her own merchandise under the name "Katy Perry" in Australia.
While Taylor won her lawsuit in 2023, there has now been an interesting turn of events. On Friday, November 22nd, three appeal judges overturned the 2023 ruling, which now means the "Harleys in Hawaii" singer can sell merchandise with her stage name 'Katy Perry' in Australia.
Three Appeal Judges Overturn The 2023 Ruling
According to The Independent, the judges chose to side with the Grammy-nominated-artist because she had trademarked her stage name five years before Taylor started her business. She also used the trademark "in good faith" during her 2014 Prism Tour, which also saw her perform in Australia. The judges ruled that the "Woman's World" singer was entitled to use her name in Australia as she already has an "international reputation in her name in music and entertainment if not more broadly."
Taylor has now been asked to deregister her trademark. The judges reportedly thought that Taylor wanted to make the most of Perry's fame and take advantage of "consumers potentially being deceived or confused," which is why they decided to side with the "Roar" hitmaker.
"This case is an unfortunate one in the sense that two enterprising women in different countries each adopted their name as a trademark at a time that each was unaware of the existence of the other," the judges' ruling read, adding: "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.)
Katie Taylor Says She Has 'Lost Everything' Following The Latest Ruling
While this is good news for Perry, the same can't be said for Taylor, who has "lost everything" following the November 22nd ruling.
As per a statement issued on her own website, Taylor said: "As you can imagine I am devastated with the outcome of the case. I won my case at first instance and to have it overturned on appeal is heartbreaking."
She continued: "This case proves a trademark isn't worth the paper it's printed on. My fashion 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. I will take some time to digest today's decision and work out my next steps with my legal team and circle of supporters."
Taylor also reportedly told The New York Post: "I have lost everything, including my trademark. As you can imagine I'm devastated."
Internet Reactions
"BOYCOTT the singer Katy Perry," slammed one person on X. "She has today, destroyed an Australian business that was around before she started singing. How low an act when this business was no threat to you at all. All her fans should be ashamed too," the same X user continued.
"Hope she's happy she wrecked the business of another woman… nasty," slammed a second on a separate post, as a third wrote: "Unbelievable of Katy Perry to have pursued this! It's not even her real name. 'Katie' Perry did everything she needed to do & lost because of the bullying of a popstar princess."