An Australian fashion designer has won a trademark case against pop star Katy Perry.
The case was about who has the right to sell clothes bearing the Katie Perry, or Katy Perry name.
Katy Perry, the singer, was born Kathryn Elizabeth Hudson but adopted her stage name in about 2001. Katie Perry, the designer, was born with that name, but changed to other names, including Katie Taylor.
The court heard the designer did not know about the singer when she first sought a trademark, although by the time it was registered, she had become aware of her after hearing the song “I Kissed A Girl”.
Katie Perry took the singer to the Federal Court in 2019, saying her trademark had been infringed. She won in the first instance, but lost on appeal.
Finally, yesterday, March 11 2026, after battling for years, the High Court found that the use of the designer’s name on clothing was unlikely to deceive or cause confusion, and was not in breach of the law.
Aussie designer Katie Perry speaks
Speaking directly with Mediaweek on Thursday morning, Katie Perry said of her victory, “It’s just a reminder to stick with it, keep believing in yourself, and anything is possible.”
But she admits that it was a long, challenging journey.
“Obviously, there were times when I [wasn’t sure]…I can remember saying to my mum, this is so big.
“Like, I’m just one person, it’s too big. This is just so hard.
“But I would always touch base with myself and say, ‘Okay, what would your 80-year-old self say to yourself?’ My 80-year-old self would say, keep going.”
Being a mum of two boys also motivated Perry to keep up the good fight.
“Both of my kids kept on saying you’ve got this, you’re so brave, you’re courageous,” she said.
“I think if they had said, or it had really negatively impacted them, or if they had said, oh, my friends at school are teasing me, or anything like that, I would have stopped it.
“But they were so proud of me. And even today they’re like, mum, you’re amazing. I saw you on TV and you’re so brave. As a mum, that’s what matters. I know that I’ve been a positive role model for them.”
Perry was able to share this perspective after the long journey: “In this world that is all negative and chaos…The morning of the news coming out, I was like – I just want this to be a positive story. We could all do with something positive and you know this is like David and Goliath. That was it.”
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Katy Perry responds to trademark verdict
In a statement given to Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Katy Perry’s representatives said the singer did offer ‘coexistence’ in 2019, which the designer did not accept – instead, filing a lawsuit a decade later.
“Katy Perry has never sought to close down Ms Taylor’s business or stop her from selling clothes under the KATIE PERRY label,” the representatives said.
“Today, by a 3:2 decision, the High Court determined that Ms Taylor’s trademark can remain on the register. The Court sent the case back to the Full Federal Court to determine issues raised by Katy Perry, including Ms Taylor’s 10-year delay in bringing her case against Katy Perry.”
Katie Perry said in a public statement following the verdict:
“This has been an incredibly long and difficult journey. But today confirms what I always believed – that trademarks should protect businesses of all sizes.
“This case has never just been about a name. It has been about protecting small businesses in Australia, for standing up for what is right and showing that we all matter.”
Top Image: Australian Katie Perry has won her trademark battle with pop singer Katy Perry. Image: Instagram