An Australian fashion designer, Katie Perry, has won a significant legal battle over the rights to her fashion label name in a dispute involving American pop star Katy Perry.
The High Court of Australia ruled on Wednesday that the designer — who now goes by the name Katie Taylor — can continue to hold the trademark for her ‘Katie Perry’ clothing brand.
According to the court, the existence of the fashion label did not harm the singer’s reputation or mislead consumers into believing the clothing line was linked to the global music star. The judges explained that because of the singer’s well-known status, “no ordinary person in Australia after a moment’s reflection” would assume the fashion brand was associated with her.
The disagreement stems from the ‘Katie Perry’ label created by the designer in April 2007 while she was still using her maiden name. She later changed her surname to Taylor in 2015.
After registering the business and seeking trademark protection, she began selling her clothing at local markets and through online platforms in September 2008. Around the same period, the singer’s career was rapidly gaining international attention following the release of her hit single I Kissed a Girl.
When the pop star — born Katheryn Hudson — visited Australia for the first time, her team also began selling ‘Katy Perry’ branded merchandise globally through an online store in October 2008.
Years later, the conflict escalated when the designer filed a lawsuit in 2024, accusing the singer of selling merchandise under the name during an Australian tour. An earlier ruling had cancelled the designer’s trademark, but the latest judgment reversed that decision.
Reacting to the outcome, Taylor described the legal battle as a challenging experience.
“This has been an incredibly long and difficult journey. But today confirms what I always believed — that trademarks should protect businesses of all sizes,” she said.
However, the case may not be entirely settled. A representative for the singer revealed that some matters raised by the pop star have been referred back to the Federal Court of Australia for further review, suggesting additional legal proceedings could still follow.
