{"id":340126,"date":"2026-05-31T11:11:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T11:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/340126\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T11:11:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T11:11:31","slug":"patagonia-trademark-lawsuit-triggers-backlash-by-drag-queen-pattie-gonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/340126\/","title":{"rendered":"Patagonia trademark lawsuit triggers backlash by drag queen Pattie Gonia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Drag queen Pattie Gonia is asking fans for help fighting Patagonia, the popular outdoor apparel and gear company<\/a>, which has sued the outspoken environmental activist for trademark infringement.<\/p>\n

The Ventura-based company filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court in January after the environmentalist drag queen submitted an application for the exclusive right to use the brand Pattie Gonia for marketing, activism and clothing sales. <\/p>\n

Wyn Wiley, who performs as Pattie Gonia, has millions of followers on social media and has raised nearly $4 million for environmental nonprofits. Last year, the drag queen raised $1 million by hiking 100 miles from Point Reyes to San Francisco. <\/p>\n

Patagonia sued Wiley for $1 in damages plus legal fees, saying it supports the performer\u2019s causes but wants to protect the company\u2019s branding. Pattie Gonia and their supporters are urging the brand to drop the suit. <\/p>\n

In its complaint, Patagonia wrote that the drag queen\u2019s \u201cproducts and services compete directly with the products and advocacy upon which Patagonia built its Patagonia brand over the last fifty-three years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pattie Gonia \u201cappropriates Patagonia\u2019s brand and identity in a way that has already confused consumers, and will continue to confuse consumers, about Patagonia\u2019s role in producing or sponsoring Pattie Gonia\u2019s products, events and public appearances,\u201d the complaint said. <\/p>\n

Pattie Gonia responded on social media this week, saying the Patagonia case is trying to take away their right to use the name and it could cost them $1 million in legal fees. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a brand conflict, this is a corporation trying to erase an activist,\u201d the drag queen said in an Instagram video<\/a>. Pattie Gonia also posted an open letter<\/a> to the company, writing that \u201cthe lawsuit hurts not only me and everything I\u2019ve built but also the people I employ, the millions of people I try to inspire, and dozens of nonprofit organizations that I have supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patagonia included photos in its legal filings showing Pattie Gonia branded stickers that closely mimic the Patagonia logo. The drag queen\u2019s stickers include the same mountain silhouette used by Patagonia. The company also included examples of social media comments by confused followers, with one saying, \u201cI genuinely thought this was a Patagonia ad for too long… or is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pattie Gonia said in a video that the company \u201ccherry picks a few examples of playful parody and fan art and tries to spin those into some kind of vast use of their logo.\u201d<\/p>\n

The company said it worked with Pattie Gonia for years to reach an agreement and avoid going to court. It said the performer violated this agreement by filing a trademark application to use the name Pattie Gonia for wide-ranging commercial sales. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we wish we didn\u2019t have to do this \u2014 and actively engaged with Pattie for several years to avoid this \u2014 it has become necessary to protect the brand we have spent the last 50 years building,\u201d Patagonia said in a statement<\/a> in January. \u201cWe want Pattie to have a long and successful career and make progress on issues that matter \u2014 but in a way that respects Patagonia\u2019s intellectual property and ability to use our brand to sell products.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patagonia posted another statement Wednesday, reiterating that the company had hoped to reach an agreement without filing suit. The company takes its name from a mountainous region<\/a> spanning Argentina and Chile.<\/p>\n