In a surprising move, the outdoor clothing giant Patagonia has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against popular drag performer Pattie Gonia. The company alleges that Pattie Gonia’s branding and use of a similar name has caused “confusion and deception” among consumers.
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims that Pattie Gonia’s recent application to trademark the name “PATTIE GONIA” directly competes with Patagonia’s own brand and advocacy work. Patagonia, which has been in business for over 50 years, argues that the drag queen’s use of a similar name and branding is “likely to dilute” its famous and distinctive trademarks.
In the court documents obtained by The Update Desk, Patagonia states that the parties had previously reached an agreement about how Pattie Gonia’s “advocacy work might continue in a way that would not interfere with Patagonia’s brand.” However, the company alleges that the drag performer has now “departed from discrete use of a persona” and is instead seeking to “launch a wide-ranging commercial enterprise” under the PATTIE GONIA brand.
Patagonia is seeking a jury trial and “only nominal monetary damages” of $1, as it claims the harm to its brand is “irreparable and cannot be remedied by money damages or other remedies short of an injunction.” The company argues that it has “no alternative but to protect its goodwill and famous trademark” by obtaining an injunction against Pattie Gonia’s further use of the PATTIE GONIA trademark and related designs.
The Update Desk has reached out to Pattie Gonia for comment on the lawsuit, but no response has been received as of the time of publication. This ongoing legal battle between the outdoor retailer and the popular drag performer is sure to garner significant attention in the coming weeks.
