The case began in 2019 when Taylor accused Perry of trademark infringement, claiming the singer’s merchandise from her 2014 Australian tour violated the designer’s 2008 trademark. Earlier this year, a judge agreed with Taylor, ruling Perry’s tour merchandise breached the trademark.
However, the appeals court determined that Perry had already built an international reputation by 2008, citing her breakout hit “I Kissed a Girl.” The judges ruled that Perry’s use of her name in Australia, particularly during her 2014 Prism tour, was legitimate and made in good faith.
The court also highlighted a missed opportunity for resolution in 2009, when Perry’s legal team proposed a coexistence agreement, which Taylor rejected. The judges noted that Taylor’s refusal contributed to the outcome, stating, “[Taylor] has brought this result on herself.”
In a significant blow to Taylor, the court canceled her trademark registration, deeming it potentially misleading to consumers by leveraging Perry’s fame. The ruling acknowledged the efforts both women invested in their respective ventures, saying, “Both women put blood, sweat, and tears into developing their businesses.”
Taylor, devastated by the decision, expressed her dismay, saying it stripped her of her lifelong dream. “My fashion label has been a dream of mine since I was 11 years old, and now that dream has been taken away,” she said. Despite the emotional fallout, the case underscores the complexities of navigating trademarks in a globalized world.