Katy Perry's legal battle with Australian fashion designer Katie Perry over the use of their similar names has come to an end, with the High Court ruling that the latter's trademark complies with trademark laws and does not have the potential to damage the global pop star's reputation. According to ABC News, the High Court released its majority decision earlier today, siding with Katie Perry.
Katy Perry's legal team had argued that she had toured and sold name-branded merchandise in Australia in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2018 without any pushback from Katie Perry. However, in 2019, the designer accused the pop star of infringing on her trademark due to the sales of Katy Perry-branded clothes, shoes, and headwear.
Katie Perry was initially successful in her bid, but the ruling in her favor was overturned on appeal as the judges ruled that the "Roar" singer already had a reputation in Australia before Katie Perry began her fashion business. Faced with the prospect of losing her business, Katie Perry filed the case to the High Court.
This week, the designer told the court that she had not heard of the pop star when she filed her trademark in 2008, although she had heard of her by the time the trademark was registered in 2009, when her namesake had a hit with "I Kissed a Girl." Katie Perry's lawyers also argued that she had used the name for a decade without any issue. The High Court sided with the designer, finding that the use of her mark on clothing was unlikely to deceive or cause confusion and awarding her costs.
