Three years ago Morris Day was barred from performing as Morris Day and the Time by the late rocker Prince's estate [click here if you missed that].
Now Prince's Purple Rain co-star, Apollonia, is suing the estate for trying to take ownership of her stage name...
From Kare 11
One-time Prince protege and Purple Rain co-star Apollonia has filed a lawsuit against his estate, saying Paisley Park Enterprises is trying to steal the name and trademarks she has been building for four decades.
Apollonia - whose legal name is Patty Kotero - filed the suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. In court documents, Kotero is asking the court to determine who owns the name Apollonia and the trademarks associated with it, accusing Paisley Park Enterprises of embarking on an "aggressive campaign" before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) to cancel her legal ownership.
"It is highly likely Prince’s estate will demand Apollonia cease using her name and, if not, bring a trademark infringement action against her," the lawsuit asserts. "Defendants’ allegations and the actual litigation before the TTAB threaten to disrupt not only Apollonia’s livelihood but also her identity, including interfering with Apollonia’s relationships with her industry partners."
Paisley Park Enterprises claims to own all things related to Prince, and considers the Apollonia name to be one of those things, even though the legendary musician did not act to "obtain" such things while he was alive.
The estate filed a trademark application for both the names Apollonia and Apollonia 6, which is the title of Kotero's podcast.
Prince's estate attempted to cancel her own trademarks with the USPTO.
Kotero describes herself as an actress, singer, songwriter, producer and entertainer, whose livelihood is built on the Apollonia name. She says in the lawsuit that she and Prince were longtime friends up until his death in 2016 from an accidental overdose.
7 comments:
What has Ms Kotero done with the Prince given name "Apollonia" since Purple Rain? Let's be clear , there was no talent behind the name, just selling sex and a cute face.
Is she still trying to perform those horrible songs? Granny needs to have some seats way in the back room. Nobody is trying to see her in fish net stockings and garter belts at age 60ty. LOLO
She shouldn't be stripped of her legacy.
She needed to talk to an intellectual property lawyer when Prince passed. The Time had to perform under another name during prince's last years because of some legal matter so this shouldn't be a surprise to miss lady.
Prince let her use that name for the past 40 years & now it is a problem?
We sadly lost Vanity so hopefully then can just Apollonia be. It is her middle name after all. Now "Apollonia 6" I can see them wanting.
If Prince hadnt trademarked it or even cared to when he was living, why should anyone else disturbs this elder womans life? Is Paisley Park going broke?
the estate been acting up since he left here
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