Patagonia sues drag queen Pattie Gonia for trademark infringement

An interesting lawsuit in that many on social media are outraged over the famous clothing company's decision to sue an environmental activist drag queen for just $1 under a trademark infringement claim. Patagonia had apparently known about "Pattie Gonia" for years and had some type of coexistence agreement with the understanding that Gonia's work was for a good cause. But what many don't appreciate is that once someone files for a trademark that clearly encroaches on the territory of a mark holder, they have no choice but to defend it. Accordingly, the decision of Patagonia to sue for just $1 to enforce their rights becomes more understandable and ostensibly more gentle in the grand scheme of this lawsuit.

New member here, so greetings. This area of litigation is completely outside my wheelhouse, so I appreciate your comment about the company having no choice but to defend it. It avoided a brewing sense of indignation I was beginning to feel.

I agree it is an interesting lawsuit. Whatever the underlying reasons, and criticism be damned, it all makes for publicity. Look at us now. As Oscar Wilde wrote in The Picture of Dorian Gray: "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."