Meghan Markle has requested additional time from the US Patent and Trademark Office to launch her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has encountered a series of ongoing trademark issues since announcing the brand's upcoming launch in March. According to documents obtained by The Post, Markle's legal team has sought a three-month extension to secure a trademark for the yet-to-be-released brand.
If Markle and her team fail to meet the next deadline, they will be required to restart the application process from the beginning. This extension request comes just a month after American Riviera Orchard faced another trademark complication. Rival lifestyle brand Harry & David filed a protest against Markle's brand, arguing that the name is too similar to its 'Royal Riviera' product line.
The US Patent and Trademark Office received a protest filing on October 31 from US-based premium food and gift retailer Harry & David. The company's 'Royal Riviera' trademark is currently registered to its pear gift baskets, which are grown in Oregon. Markle's team declined to comment on the matter.
In September, the USPTO refused Markle's trademark application, warning that businesses cannot trademark geographical locations. The brand's name is a tribute to Santa Barbara, California, where Markle resides with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two children. The USPTO stated that the addition of the word 'Orchard' does not diminish the primarily geographical descriptiveness of the applied-for mark.
The government agency also cautioned that her product descriptions could fit into multiple trademark categories. At the time, her team indicated that the pushback was 'routine and expected.' Sources told The Post that her camp was preparing to respond accordingly. Markle was granted three months to address the USPTO's response, prompting her current request for an extension.
Markle was also instructed to pay an additional $700 to proceed with the trademark filing. Following the pushback, it was reported that Markle was considering changing the name of her lifestyle brand to avoid further trademark issues. The former actress announced her business venture in March, but nine months later, there is still no release date or information about the products that customers can expect.
Although products from her brand are not yet available for purchase, Markle sent jars of strawberry jam to an exclusive group of celebrities in April, marking a 'strong start' to the company's delayed rollout.
Source link: https://nypost.com
