Prince’s “Purple Rain” co-star is taking the late music icon’s estate to court. According to the former Prince protégé, 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. Three years ago, the estate barred Morris Day from performing as Morris Day and the Time.