A Sydney fashion designer who won a Federal Court stoush against US pop star Katy Perry says she is "over the moon" at the verdict.
Legal action was first launched in June 2009 over a trademark held by Katie Jane Taylor, who uses her birth name to design and sell clothes under the brand Katie Perry.
Ms Taylor has run her fashion label since 2006, which she describes as a dream come true made possible through "blood, sweat and tears".
The court ruled the designer had partially succeeded on her claims of trademark infringement last Friday, in a judgement released yesterday.
She told ABC News she was working two jobs to stay afloat, when she first received a cease-and-desist letter from Perry's representatives in June 2009.
"I remember I just had opened my showroom, and had the night before a big launch party, there were empty champagne bottles everywhere," she recalled.
"I had gone to the PO Box and picked up this mail, this thick document, read through it and tears streamed down my face. I thought I was going to lose everything."
Ms Taylor launched a case against Perry in 2019 over a trademark infringement for merchandise the singer had been selling in Australia.
At the time, Ms Taylor was also taking care of a three-month-old baby, which she described as not ideal timing for juggling a legal matter.
She described feeling "over the moon" when the judgement was reached last Friday.
"I was fist pumping up-and-down the room, just saying 'we've won, we've won'," she said.
"It's been a really tough journey," she continued. "It did start back in 2009, such a long time ago where I had the trademark and they opposed my trademark."
Ms Taylor alleges that during the proceedings, she had been bullied, intimidated and trolled, with death threats sent to herself and her children by strangers.
"One of my values is truth and justice, and I knew I had to stand up for what is right," she said.
"Stand up for small business, Australian law and also for my trademark."
In the court case, derogatory remarks made by Perry about Ms Taylor emerged from an old email thread.
It's left Ms Taylor feeling sad about the comments which were brought to light a decade later.
"That was really heartbreaking," said Ms Taylor.
"To think that someone who doesn't even know me, to say some really horrific things about me."
Perry's legal team also filed a cross-claim in December 2019 against Ms Taylor, seeking orders that Ms Taylor's trademark be cancelled.
Ms Taylor said she was worried that if the cross-claim was successful, it could ruin the future of her lounge wear label.
"While this has all been happening, I was sitting in a limbo space, always thinking, if the cross-claim was successful, I'm either going to have to close my business or rebrand everything."
However, the cross-claim was dismissed by Justice Brigitte Markovic this month.
Ms Taylor now operates out of a home in Sydney's Hunters Hill since COVID-19 lockdowns, but continues to sell at pop-up stalls and at The Rocks Markets near Sydney Opera House.
Over the last 13 years, she has referred to the spat as a David v Goliath situation.
"I know I'm really fortunate. The main message I want to share with everyone is that small business matters," Ms Taylor said.
"No matter if you're a mum with small little kids, or a huge pop star – we all matter, no matter how big or small our business is.
Perry's legal team declined to comment on the verdict.
