Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia, whose real name is Wyn Wiley. The company is seeking $1 in damages plus legal fees, stating it 'wish we didn’t have to do this'.
The lawsuit, filed on 21 January in federal court in Los Angeles, claims that Wiley’s trademark application to use the brand Pattie Gonia for clothing and environmental activism would 'irreparably harm' Patagonia’s brand. Patagonia said it actively engaged with Wiley for several years to avoid legal action but could not reach an agreement.
Wiley, who has raised nearly $4m for non-profits through their drag persona, responded publicly on Instagram on Wednesday, calling the lawsuit 'a betrayal of Patagonia’s core mission'. They said they faced a choice between 'erasure' of their name and advocacy or fighting back, and accused the company of 'trying to erase an activist'.
Wiley acknowledged their merchandise involved 'playful parody' of Patagonia but denied using its branding, logo or font, noting that 'drag is built on parody, puns and jokes'. Patagonia’s social media has been flooded with comments from fans urging the company to drop the case.
Patagonia, which was given away by founder Yvon Chouinard in 2022 to a trust and non-profit focused on environmental causes, said the lawsuit is not about financial gain or challenging identity or expression, but about protecting its trademark and business.
