Katy Perry Tries To ‘Crush’ Australian Designer

Katy Perry has continued her longstanding legal battle against Sydney designer Katie Jane Taylor, who sells clothes under her birth name, Katie Perry.

In late April, ABC reported that the Australian fashion designer won her trademark dispute against the pop star.

Back when the lawsuit was first filed in 2019, Taylor and her legal team alleged that Perry was aware of the name's trademark held in Australia and "tried to bully her to give it up in 2009", as well as attempting to "initiate opposition proceedings".

Taylor, who established her label in 2006, has held the trademark registration for Katie Perry-branded clothes in Australia since 29 September 2008. Things got complicated, however, when Perry continued to sell clothes under the 'Katy Perry' tag in Australia, including in Target, Myer and online websites.

Taylor’s win should have been the end of it. However, yesterday (14 June), Taylor revealed that Perry appealed the judge’s decision, dragging the case back to court once again.

Appearing on A Current Affair last night, the Australian designer said, “I'm reeling, to be honest. I feel like it's back to the beginning.”

She continued to tell A Current Affair, “This is my dream... I've wanted to have a fashion label since I was 11.”

Taylor went on to call her legal troubles with Katy Perry a “David and Goliath case”, and added, “It's really been carrying on since 2009 and I felt like, 'great, the end is in sight, it's a win for the little guy', and then last week I found out the singer has appealed.”

Calling Perry an "overseas conglomerate", Taylor said, “That's why this case has felt so wrong, because I've done everything I was supposed to do and then an overseas conglomerate can come to Australia and say, 'Well, I'm bigger, I've got more money, I can crush you'. (It) is wrong.”

You can watch Taylor’s appearance on A Current Affair here.

"This is a tale of two women, two teenage dreams and one name," Justice Brigitte Markovic said in April.

In 2019, Taylor revealed who she’s fighting for: “I am fighting not just for myself, but for all small businesses in this country who can be bullied by these overseas entities who have much more financial power than we do.”