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ARTICLE · 22 APRIL 2026

Katy Perry Kontra Katie Perry

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A surname may be an economic good, function as a company or trademark. Let us check what the law tells us about the legal status of a surname as a personal good...

PolandIntellectual Property
Małgorzata Furmańska
Małgorzata Furmańska

Who has the right to a surname in business? Why even "Katy Perry" had to give way

A surname may be an economic good, function as a company or trademark. Let us check what the law tells us about the legal status of a surname as a personal good, belonging to a person and, at the same time, as an element of the market, acting as a company or trademark.

The use of the surname as a trademark has been immensely popular in business transactions for years. In the past, this type of designation can be found in the fashion industry (fashion house brands often bear the surnames of designers). Today, this is no exception in other industries.

Therefore, it is worth knowing that registering a surname as a trademark raises significant legal challenges. The key challenge is the relatively high probability of the existence of identical or similar determinations in the market.

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