Launching any new business is a challenge but Meghan Markle‘s journey to getting American Riviera Orchard up and running seems to be a never-ending uphill battle amid ongoing staffing issues.
The Duchess of Sussex was dealt another fresh blow when her trademark application was refused, putting another hurdle between her and the launch of her lifestyle brand.
As The Telegraph reports, on August 31 the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected trademark application made by Markle’s company on the grounds that businesses cannot trademark geographical locations.
The brand’s name is a nod to Santa Barbra, where Markle lives with husband Prince Harry, but the USPTO notes that even the inclusion of “Orchard” in the brand title, “does not diminish the primarily geographical descriptiveness of the applied for mark.”
The USPTO added that, because of the inclusion of “America Riviera” in the title, “a public association of the goods and services with the place is presumed.”
The purpose of the ruling is “to leave geographic names free for all businesses operating in the same area to inform customers where their goods or services originate.”
“Furthermore, the purchasing public would be likely to believe that the goods and services originate in the geographic place identified in the mark because the attached evidence shows that applicant’s founder, ie, Meghan Markle, resides in the geographic place identified in the mark,” the USPTO added, per the outlet.
Markle has three months to respond to the ruling or risks having her application dropped. However, it is not uncommon for trademark applications to go through several approval attempts.
Markle does, however, have another battle on her hands amid reports that she is struggling to find a CEO after 18 staff members quit. The former actress first revealed the new business venture back in March, launching the company’s social media profiles at the same time.
In April, the brand drummed up more interest by sending out jars of strawberry jam to an exclusive group of celebrities and members of Markle’s inner circle. However, there has still been no official launch date or information about what products will be available.
Click here to see a complete timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s feud with the royal family.
