Outdoor clothing company Patagonia is facing backlash after suing environmentalist drag queen Pattie Gonia over trademark rights tied to the activist’s name. Patagonia filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles this year against Pattie Gonia, whose real name is Wyn Wiley. The company claims Wiley’s trademark application for clothing and environmental activism could harm the Patagonia brand. In an Instagram video posted recently, Wiley said, “This is not a brand conflict…This is a corporation trying to erase an activist.”
Patagonia says it sought a settlement for years, but could not reach an agreement and added that the lawsuit is “not about seeking financial gain” or limiting advocacy or creative expression.
