Meghan Markle Hit With Brutal Blow By U.S. Authorities
Meghan Markle has reportedly been dealt a harsh blow by U.S. authorities.
Markle and Prince Harry remain a focal point of public and media interest despite leaving their roles as senior royals in 2020.
Their efforts to lead a private life are frequently overshadowed by ongoing public scrutiny.
And now, there’s more bad news for Markle.
The Duchess of Sussex faces yet another challenge as her attempts to establish her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, hit significant roadblocks.
Markle introduced her new venture in March via Instagram, showcasing strawberry jams and announcing ambitious plans for a line of lifestyle products. The proposed goods include homewares, makeup, pet food, and even wine.
As part of the soft launch, she sent jars of her homemade jam to 50 celebrity friends and influencers, including Chrissy Teigen and Abigail Spencer.
However, tangible progress toward a broader public launch has been slow, with no confirmed release dates or substantial product rollouts.
The brand, which aims to rival industry leaders like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, has been mired in legal and operational setbacks, casting doubt on its success.
A major hurdle has been securing a trademark for the American Riviera Orchard name, Sky News reports.
This trademark dispute isn’t the first time Markle has faced challenges in branding her business endeavors.
In 2023, she abandoned efforts to trademark her Archetypes podcast title after discovering the name had already been claimed by another entity, per Mail Online.
These repeated setbacks have raised questions about her business acumen.
Former KPMG Global executive Hillary Fordwich criticized the Duchess’s approach, remarking: “Obviously, as an actress, Meghan lacks the business acumen in arenas such as securing a patent for the name American Riviera Orchard. Most professionals know to retain experts for such critical steps.”
Adding to Markle’s struggles are operational challenges within the brand itself.
Reports suggest she and Prince Harry have had difficulty finding a CEO for the venture, with sources claiming the Duchess is currently managing the business independently.
While she is said to be enthusiastic about running the company herself, the lack of steady leadership has delayed progress.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected her initial application in August, citing multiple issues.
Among these were technical mistakes such as incomplete descriptions, unsigned documents, and insufficient filing fees.
Additionally, the USPTO flagged concerns about the use of ‘American Riviera,’ a term associated with California’s coastal region, as trademarks cannot include widely recognized geographic names.
One particularly puzzling detail involves the design of the letter ‘O’ in the word ‘Orchard,’ which the USPTO deemed ‘unrecognizable as a letter.’
Markle has since been asked to provide a revised description and address other deficiencies in the application.
Despite the three-month window originally granted for these corrections, her legal team recently requested an additional three months.
Failure to meet the new deadline would force her to restart the entire application process.
The most recent blow to Markle’s efforts comes as the trademark dispute escalates.
Another company, Harry & David, which owns the Royal Riviera trademark, has filed a complaint citing potential confusion between the two brands.
With annual sales exceeding $1.7 billion and a legacy dating back to 1934, Harry & David successfully challenged her trademark bid.
For Markle, this development marks a severe setback.
If she cannot resolve the issues surrounding the trademark, her vision for American Riviera Orchard may face a complete restart.
Despite these setbacks, Markle continues to pursue her vision for the brand.
Her plans include diversifying the product lineup to include a rosé wine and launching a Netflix cooking and home series, which she recently completed filming.
This TV show, produced under her and Prince Harry’s $100 million Netflix deal, aims to celebrate cooking, entertainment, and friendship while providing a platform to promote her products.
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