Is Patagonia Erasing Pattie Gonia?
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Pattie Gonia is Wyn Wiley — a queer outdoor entertainer, drag performer, and environmental activist based in Colorado. They have built a following of hundreds of thousands across social media by combining drag performance with backcountry outdoor adventure, collaborating with major outdoor brands, and advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in outdoor spaces. "Pattie Gonia" is not a corporate entity or a competing apparel brand. It is a performer's stage name.
On January 21, 2026, Patagonia, Inc. filed a federal lawsuit against Wyn Wiley d/b/a Pattie Gonia in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The case is docketed as Case 2:26-cv-00586. The complaint asserts six causes of action: federal trademark infringement, federal trademark dilution, and two counts each of unfair competition under federal law and unfair competition under California state law.
The central claim is that the stage name "Pattie Gonia" is confusingly similar to Patagonia's registered trademark and therefore constitutes infringement. Patagonia's legal theory is that consumers encountering "Pattie Gonia" content will mistakenly believe it is affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Patagonia, Inc.
The complaint was preceded by a cease and desist email in February 2025 and a follow-up in March 2025. Pattie Gonia responded to the first communication and disputed Patagonia's characterization of their prior relationship. They did not respond to the March follow-up. In September 2025, Pattie Gonia filed a federal trademark application for the "Pattie Gonia" name, which appears to have accelerated Patagonia's decision to file suit.
The case is assigned to the Western District of Washington federal court. The public docket is accessible via PACER. All developments will be reflected in the timeline below as they occur.
Pattie Gonia and Patagonia participate in a three-way meeting (also involving Hydroflask) and enter into an informal email agreement. The agreement, as described in later communications, involved some understanding about the scope of Pattie Gonia's activities and branding. Patagonia would later argue this constituted a license with conditions; Pattie Gonia disputes this characterization.
Pattie Gonia registers the domain pattiegoniamerch.com to sell branded merchandise. Patagonia later cites this in their complaint as evidence of trademark infringement and an expansion of commercial activity beyond what the 2022 agreement permitted.
Patagonia sends a cease and desist email to Pattie Gonia demanding they stop using the "Pattie Gonia" name commercially.
Pattie Gonia responds to the cease and desist and disputes Patagonia's characterization of both the name and the 2022 agreement.
Patagonia sends a follow-up communication. Pattie Gonia does not respond.
Pattie Gonia files a federal trademark application with the USPTO for the "Pattie Gonia" name. This action appears to have prompted Patagonia to escalate from cease and desist to litigation.
Patagonia, Inc. files suit in the Western District of Washington. Case 2:26-cv-00586. Six claims. The complaint requests, among other relief, a permanent injunction barring Pattie Gonia from performing under their name.
As of , the lawsuit remains active. No settlement, dismissal, or court ruling has been reported.
Here is what Patagonia's lawyers filed in federal court, in their own words. This is the public court record — Case 2:26-cv-00586, Western District of Washington.
From the complaint — requested injunctive relief:
"A permanent injunction enjoining Defendant, and all persons acting in concert with Defendant, from… continuing to perform in any manner whatsoever under the Pattie Gonia name…"
Patagonia's complaint requests statutory damages of $1 — one dollar — in actual damages. The complaint is not primarily about money. It is about the injunction: the court order that would require Pattie Gonia to stop performing under their name.