Prince Harry's Wife in Legal Trouble

Meghan Markle's latest business venture, As Ever, is already making waves, but not for the reasons she might have hoped. Just weeks after rebranding from American Riviera Orchard, the Duchess of Sussex is now facing potential legal trouble over her new logo, which bears a striking resemblance to the coat of arms of Porreres, a small town in Mallorca, Spain.

Why Meghan Markle Rebranded to 'As Ever'

The drama surrounding Markle's new brand unfolded just before her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan," debuted on March 4.

Originally announced as American Riviera Orchard in March 2024, the brand was intended to focus on food, home goods, and lifestyle products. However, Markle soon ran into trademark roadblocks, as the name was deemed "primarily geographically descriptive" by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to Vanity Fair.

In an Instagram video, Markle admitted that while she loved the name American Riviera Orchard, it limited her to products from Santa Barbara. The shift to As Ever was also influenced by her new business partnership with Netflix, which extended beyond the upcoming documentary.

Markle explained on Instagram: "Last year, I had thought, 'You know what? American Riviera, that sounds like such a great name.' It's my neighborhood, it's a nickname for Santa Barbara, but it limited me to things that were just manufactured and grown in this area," as reported by Page Six.

"Then Netflix came on, not just as my partner in the show, but as my partner in my business. which was huge. So I thought about it, and I've been waiting for a moment to share a name that I had secured in 2022, and this is the moment, and it's called As Ever," Markle continued, according to Vanity Fair.

As Ever is expected to feature home goods, gardening tools, and food products, including Markle's highly promoted fruit preserves.

Spanish Town Investigates Meghan's Logo

At the center of the controversy is the As Ever logo, which features a palm tree flanked by two birds, a design that closely resembles Porreres' official coat of arms. The Mallorcan town's emblem also includes a palm tree with two birds flying toward it, and Mayor Xisca Mora has taken notice.

Ara Balears, a newspaper in the Balearic Islands, reported that Mora is "studying the case with the legal services of the Consistory to see what course of action should be taken from the municipal level," according to Page Six.

While she has not committed to legal action yet, she acknowledged that Markle's use of the design is bringing international attention to her 5,000-person town, saying to Ara Balears, "Many people around the world will become aware that in Mallorca there is an inland town that has this coat of arms," according to Page Six. She added, "We feel international. It's surreal."

Despite the plagiarism accusations, a source told Page Six that the logo was intentionally designed to reflect Markle and Prince Harry's personal connections. The palm tree is said to represent their California home, while the hummingbirds are a nod to Harry's favorite bird, something he has written about in his memoir, "Spare."

Past Plagiarism Allegations

This isn't the first time Markle has faced plagiarism accusations. In 2018, when she released her children's book The Bench, critics noted similarities to an earlier work by a British author in both title and artwork. However, the writer in question defended Markle, stating he did not see any similarities between the books.

More Than Just a Logo Problem

The logo dispute isn't the only trademark challenge facing Markle's brand. Even the name As Ever is drawing attention from other businesses.

Shortly after the announcement, Mark Kolski, the owner of a New York-based clothing brand also called As Ever, spoke out about the unexpected overlap.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Kolski revealed that he had no advance notice of Markle's rebrand, saying, "I'm really not that hard to find."

Though Kolski has no plans for a public battle, he acknowledged that things could change if Markle expands into clothing, stating, "If they had intentions of making clothes out of the gate then it could have been a problem. They're choosing not to make clothing at this time, but that could change," according to Vanity Fair.

Additionally, Jen Corbett, an Arizona-based photographer, pointed out that she has been using the name for over 12 years in honor of her grandmother. In an Instagram post, as reported by Vanity Fair, she wrote, "When one of the most famous people in the world starts using your biz name of 12+ years (that you named in honor of your grandmother), seems like they could throw me a lil bone?"

She later clarified that she wasn't trying to stir controversy, but temporarily set her account to private. When Vanity Fair reached out for further comment, Corbett reportedly declined.

Unlike Kolski, Corbett holds a registered trademark for "As Ever Photography." However, since Markle's business doesn't focus on photography, the two names are unlikely to cause legal conflict.

What Happens Next?

While Porreres' legal team is reportedly reviewing whether to take action over the logo dispute, experts believe that Markle may not face serious legal consequences.

Trademark attorney Richard Stim told Vanity Fair that broad trademark applications often lead to overlaps and disputes, but they don't always result in lawsuits.

"She filed an Intent to Use application — that means you don't get any trademark rights until you use it for commerce," Stim explained to Vanity Fair. "To acquire the trademark, she has to come up with goods in those categories. She has about two years in terms of extending that deadline."

As for the logo issue, the fact that Porreres is a small town rather than a commercial entity could make it harder to pursue copyright or trademark claims. However, if the mayor pushes for a formal complaint, Markle may be forced to modify or replace the design.

With her Netflix premiere in the spotlight and her lifestyle brand still taking shape, Meghan Markle is once again at the center of royal drama, this time, in the world of trademarks and branding.

References: Meghan Markle forced to rebrand American Riviera Orchard as As Ever 2 weeks before Netflix show launches | Meghan Markle could face legal action over brand logo that's strikingly similar to Spanish town's coat of arms | Meghan Markle's As Ever Logo Problems Are a Little More Nuanced Than Armchair Experts Make It Sound