Meghan Markle is reportedly considering switching up the name of her impending lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard after its trademark application was refused.
The Duchess of Sussex’s team has had trouble getting her new brand over the line as the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) warned that businesses cannot trademark geographical locations.
The recent rejection has sent the “Suits” alum’s team into a “spin,” a source told the Express.
Insiders close to the mom of two add that the ordeal is eerily reminiscent of when Kim Kardashian faced issues with her shapewear brand at its inception in 2019.
The billionaire reality star, 43, was ultimately forced to change her brand’s name from Kimono to Skims after it was accused of cultural appropriation.
“The team are thinking of backups as we speak just in case,” a source told the outlet of Markle’s case.
“They’ve been put into a bit of a last-minute spin but they’re not too worried because they are aware that Kim [Kardashian] also changed her brand name after launch and it still did amazingly well.”
“It will be a rather costly measure if they have to change the name at this late stage due to all the branding, but it won’t be the end of the world,” the insider added.
The Post has reached out to Markle’s reps for comment.
Markle’s preferred brand name is a sweet nod to Santa Barbara, Calif., where she resides with her husband Prince Harry and their two children.
The USPTO said on Saturday the addition of the word Orchard “does not diminish the primarily geographical descriptiveness of the applied for mark.”
Markle’s team considers the pushback “routine and expected” when filing for trademarks. It expects to respond in due course, The Post hears.
The former actress, 43, now has three months to address the response made by the USPTO or risk having her application dropped.
She must also pay an additional $700 to move forward with the trademark filing.
The exiled royal unveiled her new business venture in March, but is yet to reveal a release date.
While products from her brand are not available for purchase yet, Markle sent out jars of strawberry jam to an exclusive group of celebs in April, prompting a “strong start” to the company’s rollout.
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Source: USA Today
