SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: In an Australian court's ruling, Katy Perry was deemed to have violated a Sydney designer's trademark. The American pop icon, 38, has said she will appeal the ruling. The 'I Kissed A Girl' hitmaker was sued for trademark infringement in Federal Court in April by Katie Jane Taylor, a self-described "Aussie battler," for the sale of clothing.
Taylor, a mother of two, has been using her birth name, Katie Perry, as the name of her apparel since 2006. She has also owned the brand name in Australia for more than ten years. The singer, whose real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, was sued by the Sydney designer for allegedly violating her trademark by using one that was "substantially identical or deceptively similar," as cited by Daily Mail.
Katy Perry v Katie Perry
Taylor asserted that Perry has been using the trademark in Australia since at least 2013, selling goods not only at her concerts but also in stores like Myer and Target. Following the protracted trademark battle, Justice Brigitte Markovic issued her ruling in April, describing it as a "tale of two women, two teenage dreams, and one name." Taylor largely prevailed in her legal fight while Perry's lawsuit and the company Killer Queen LLC were unsuccessful.
'Blown way out of proportion'
Taylor started designing garments in November 2007. In May 2008, she sold them at Sydney markets after introducing her collection at a school charity event. She initially registered her business and domain name as "Katie Perry" in 2007, before the pop star of the same name produced her own merchandise in Australia. The Aussie designer later made her legal dispute public in a YouTube video to the celebrity in 2009. Steven Jensen, Perry's manager, responded via email and stated that the issue had been "blown way out of proportion."
'Congratulations to the real Katie Perry'
Perry has now filed an appeal against the decision of the Federal Court and the next hearing date has not yet been set. Despite the criticism Taylor has received from Perry's followers, a network of Australian supporters has kept her upbeat throughout the judicial battle. Even Thomas Malucelli from 'The Bachelor' lent his support by modeling the small business owner's clothing line and providing encouraging remarks on her Instagram page. He claimed, "You rock my friend!!! ❤️" Another user wrote, "Congratulations to the real Katie Perry ??? You did it!!" "Congratulations!!! This is an amazing achievement!" noted another. Someone else said, "Well done for not allowing the big business destroy you."
