When you first heard about this Katy Perry lawsuit, you must have thought that this is about Katy Perry, and yes, that’s true, but it is about an Australian fashion designer Katie Perry too. And both of these are now fighting over the name Katy/Katie Perry, and who has the right to use it. So, if you don’t know the full matter or what really is going on with this case so far, then just keep on reading because the implications of it can be super common, and it can happen to many people out there who use or have the same names as some celebrities out there. Since the details are super interesting, we think it is time to just get going at it.
Who Are The Two Katy/Katie Perrys?
Before addressing the legal aspect of the situation, it is useful to know who the two people involved really are.
The first person is Katy Perry, the worldwide pop singer that everyone associates with hits like I Kissed a Girl, Firework, and Roar. Her birth name is Kathryn Elizabeth Hudson. She started to use the stage name Katy Perry by 2001 as her music career was unfolding.
The other person is Katie Perry, a clothing designer from Sydney, Australia. As opposed to the singer, this is her real name. Around 2007 she began a small clothing label and used her own name as the brand name for the business.
Therefore, the major conflict is that both ladies were publicly using names that were quite similar to each other. One person was creating a worldwide music career along with merchandise, while the other person was selling clothes through a local fashion brand. At last, there was a situation when their businesses met.
When Did The Dispute Start?
The dispute started in 2008 and 2009 as the two businesses started getting more recognition.
In 2007 the Australian artist debut her fashion brand, naming it “Katie Perry.” Alongside she registered a trademark in Australia for the name to be allowed to sell clothing under it legally.
Meanwhile, Katy Perry’s international music career was on the rise. The release of her single I Kissed a Girl in 2008 made her popular worldwide.
Eventually the situation got tricky towards the end of 2008.
In or about October 2008, the singer started to offer Katy Perry merchandise over the Internet, clothes among them. Then, in 2009 the pop star’s lawyers reached out the Australian designer and ordered her to discontinue the use of the name for clothing.
They even put forward the idea of a contract in which both parties could use the name subject to certain restrictions. The designer, however, declined the offer as she insisted on possessing total control of her brand.
What started as a difference of opinion led to a prolonged court case.
Why Did The Lawsuit Start Much Later?
The dispute started back in 2009 but the matter was not taken to court until 2019.
The Australian designer chose to pursue the matter in court, accusing the singer of infringing her clothing trademark in Australia. In her reasoning, she said that Katy Perry products were sold in the country under the same name she had registered.
One of the main elements of the case was Katy Perry’s 2014 concert tour in Australia. At those concerts, the merchandise booths offered things like T-shirts, hoodies, and jackets but bearing the “Katy Perry” label.
A few days before the court hearing, the designer sent a letter to the singer to oppose the contract.
What started as informal talks between lawyers had now become a formal court case.
