Katy Perry Loses Court Battle With Australian Fashion Designer

A long-running feud between Australian fashion designer Katie Taylor, born Katie Perry, and US pop star Katy Perry has come to an end in the Federal Court of Australia. 

As ABC reports, the Australian fashion designer has won her trademark dispute against the pop star, with a judge today releasing results from the trial which wrapped last Friday.

Back in 2019 when the lawsuit was first filed, it was alleged that Perry was aware of the name's trademark held in Australia by the designer and "tried to bully her to give it up in 2009", as well as attempting to "initiate opposition proceedings".

Taylor, who established her label in 2006, has held the trademark registration for Katy Perry-branded clothes in Australia since 29 September 2008, however, Perry continued to sell clothes under the 'Katy Perry' tag in Australia, including in Target, Myer and online websites.

Justice Brigitte Markovic today ruled that the designer had partially succeeded in her claims of trademark infringement.

It was found that Perry, whose company Kitty Purry was liable, had infringed on copyright during her 2014/15 Prismatic Tour of Australia, which featured pop-up stores in Sydney and Melbourne, and also in 2013/14 via several posts on Twitter and Facebook promoting products and pop-up stores.

An infringement was also found in relation to merch website Bravado, but Taylor was not successful in regard to alleged trademark infringement via Target, Myer and other online stores.

"This is a tale of two women, two teenage dreams and one name," Justice Brigitte Markovic said.

Back in 2019, Taylor described the case as “a real David and Goliath fight”.

“The singer has ignored my trademark and continued to sell infringing goods unlawfully in Australia,” she said at the time.

“I am fighting not just for myself, but for all small businesses in this country who can be bullied by these overseas entities who have much more financial power than we do.”