Meghan Markle's Trademark Turmoil: Duchess to Seek 'More Time' to Correct American Riviera Orchard Brand Issues

Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard has faced several trademark challenges that have significantly delayed its launch since its promotional debut in March.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) initially rejected Meghan's brand name application in August, citing that the name "American Riviera Orchard" was "primarily geographically descriptive."

According to the USPTO, trademarks referencing specific locations are not typically eligible for protection, as they describe the origin rather than distinguish the brand. This rejection has been a critical hurdle for the brand's trademark approval process, according to one Sussex insider.

The office flagged issues with the lifestyle product line's logo design to complicate matters further. They noted that the stylized O in "Orchard" was "unrecognizable" and that the application failed to provide a clear description of the logo. Without an accurate description, the USPTO deemed the application incomplete and requested a revision to include precise details about the design.

These procedural errors "have also added" to the legal obstacles hindering the brand's progression.

Adding to the complications, a legal protest was filed in October by the food company Harry & David, which holds the trademark for "Royal Riviera." The company argued that the similarity between the names "American Riviera Orchard" and their trademarked title could confuse consumers, especially since both brands might operate in related industries.

This opposition has raised questions about whether the Duchess' team might need to change the brand's name entirely to avoid further legal entanglements.

In response to these setbacks, Meghan's legal team requested a three-month extension to resolve the trademark issues.

This extension is critical, as missing the deadline could require restarting the entire application process from scratch. The additional time will likely address the geographic descriptiveness concern, revise the logo description and respond to the opposition from Harry & David.

However, the delays have already impacted the brand’s launch timeline. Despite some promotional efforts, such as sending products to influencers, the line has yet to announce an official release date or detailed product information.

Some royal analysts cite how the trademark troubles highlight the challenges Meghan faces in building her brand.

While her team explores potential solutions, including a name change, the unresolved legal issues have cast uncertainty over American Rivera Orchard's future. As the USPTO and legal disputes continue to stall progress, the Duchess of Sussex's vision for the jam and dog biscuit line is allegedly on hold.

Meghan is also said to be working on a Netflix cooking show, which is rumored to premiere on the streamer sometime next spring. Some earlier reports suggested the new series will likely tie into the official launch of the Duchess' lifestyle brand.

The Blast reported on Meghan's delayed brand.