Patagonia Sues Drag Queen Pattie Gonia Over Trademark Dispute
Outdoor apparel brand Patagonia has filed a lawsuit against drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia, born Wyn Wiley, citing a trademark dispute. The lawsuit, initiated in January, claims Pattie Gonia's trademark application for clothing overlaps with Patagonia's existing trademarks, potentially confusing consumers and breaching a 2022 agreement between the parties. Pattie Gonia has publicly accused Patagonia of attempting to "erase an activist," leading to a public relations challenge for the company and significant social media backlash from the artist's large following.
Patagonia, the renowned outdoor clothing company, has initiated a lawsuit against drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia, also known as Wyn Wiley, over an alleged trademark infringement.
The lawsuit, filed in January, became public knowledge this month after Pattie Gonia broke their silence on the matter, following comments made by Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert in late May. Pattie Gonia, who has 1.8 million Instagram followers and 900,000 TikTok followers, accused Patagonia of attempting to "erase an activist" through legal action. This has resulted in considerable criticism aimed at the brand from the activist's online community.
Patagonia's legal complaint asserts that Pattie Gonia's trademark application for clothing production overlaps with its own trademarks, which could lead to consumer confusion. The company further states that the application violates a 2022 agreement previously established between the parties. Patagonia has specified that it is seeking damages of $1 and legal fees.
Despite the controversy, Patagonia's chief communications and impact officer, Corley Kenna, stated that the company remains committed to its values and is not retracting its support for diversity or LGBTQ+ rights. Kenna emphasized that Patagonia operates as a values-based company, distinguishing itself from other corporations that may be scaling back such commitments.
Patagonia has a history of advocating for progressive causes, including high ratings from the Human Rights Campaign for its treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. The company has publicly opposed funding for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and actively campaigned for the protection of public lands, including suing the Trump administration in 2017 to safeguard the Bears Ears national monument. In 2022, founder Yvon Chouinard transferred ownership of the then-$3 billion company to the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the climate crisis.
According to Fortune, representatives for Pattie Gonia declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.
