Apollonia filed a lawsuit in opposition to Prince’s property over rights to her title after a long time of utilizing it with out objection from the late artist.
Patty Kotero is taking authorized motion in opposition to Prince’s property over the rights to the title, “Apollonia,” arguing that she’s been utilizing it for many years with out objection—till now.
The singer and actress filed a lawsuit Tuesday (August 19) within the Central District of California in opposition to Paisley Park Enterprises LLC, the enterprise entity managing Prince’s property.
On the coronary heart of the dispute is possession of the names “Apollonia” and “Apollonia 6,” each of which Kotero says she’s held logos for since 2016 and 2018, respectively.
In accordance with court docket paperwork cited by Bloomberg Legislation, Kotero is asking the court docket to verify her authorized declare to the names and block the property from interfering along with her logos.
The submitting got here after the property submitted its personal functions in June 2025 to federally register “Apollonia” for clothes and leisure companies.
Together with that transfer, the property additionally petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Workplace to cancel Kotero’s logos, citing contracts from the early Eighties.
Kotero pushed again in her criticism, stating that Prince by no means objected to her utilizing the title throughout his lifetime, nor did anybody performing on his behalf.
Kotero additionally argues that any claims the property could have had are not legitimate as a result of statute of limitations and the property’s long-standing acceptance of her skilled identification.
The authorized battle stems from her time starring alongside Prince within the 1984 movie Purple Rain and performing because the lead singer of the group Apollonia 6, which was created by Prince.
Since then, she’s continued to make use of the title in performances and merchandise.
As of now, the property has not issued a public response to the lawsuit.
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