Patagonia has launched a trademark lawsuit against an environmentalist drag queen named Pattie Gonia, who has accused the outdoor clothing company of \u201ctrying to erase an activist\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wyn Wiley, who performs as Pattie Gonia, has accumulated millions of followers online for their environmental activism<\/a>, raising almost $4m for non-profits so far. Last year they raised $1m while hiking 100 miles in full drag<\/a> from Point Reyes national seashore to San Francisco.<\/p>\n Patagonia, which takes its name from an enormous geographical region spanning Argentina and Chile, filed its trademark infringement lawsuit<\/a> against Wiley on 21 January. The suit was filed to the federal court in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n The company, which is suing Wiley for a \u201cnominal\u201d $1 in damages plus legal fees, said that it took action after Wiley filed a trademark application in September to use the brand Pattie Gonia to sell clothing and promote environmental activism, which it claims would \u201cirreparably harm\u201d its brand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we wish we didn\u2019t have to do this \u2013 and actively engaged with Pattie for several years to avoid this \u2013 it has become necessary to protect the brand we have spent the last 50 years building,\u201d the company said in January.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want Pattie to have a long and successful career and make progress on issues that matter \u2013 but in a way that respects Patagonia\u2019s intellectual property and ability to use our brand to sell products and advocate for the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Wiley responded to the lawsuit publicly for the first time in a video<\/a> on Instagram, and shared a letter<\/a> they have sent to Patagonia\u2019s board of directors asking them to drop the legal action.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a betrayal of Patagonia\u2019s core mission. Because if they\u2019re \u2018in business to save the home planet\u2019, why are they suing a climate activist?\u201d Wiley said.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last four months since the lawsuit was filed, I have stayed silent and worked every channel I had to resolve this without going to court. But in the end, I had two choices. The erasure of my name, my advocacy, my community, and everyone I employ. Or fight for myself and fight for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Pattie Gonia says \u2018drag is built on parody, puns ands jokes\u2019. Photograph: The Washington Post\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Wiley said that though Patagonia claimed it was only suing them for $1, the legal fees to fight to keep their drag name would cost a lot more.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a brand conflict,\u201d Wiley said. \u201cThis is a corporation trying to erase an activist. This is how corporations bully individuals who cannot match their resources.\u201d<\/p>\n Wylie acknowledged that their merch had involved \u201cplayful parody\u201d of Patagonia, but denied ever using its branding, logo or font, adding: \u201cDrag is built on parody, puns and jokes.\u201d<\/p>\n