Apollonia Sues Prince Estate Over Trademark Ownership

Patricia Kotero, known as Apollonia, has filed a lawsuit against Prince's estate claiming sole legal ownership of the name "Apollonia," which she has used professionally for over 40 years. She alleges that Prince's heirs improperly applied for trademark rights to "Apollonia" and sought to cancel her existing trademarks, despite Prince's prior consent and encouragement for her use of the name. The estate claims Kotero signed contracts in the 1980s relinquishing rights to the name, but Kotero argues these agreements are either invalid or barred by the statute of limitations. Kotero's legal team emphasizes her continuous use of the name in music, acting, and podcasting, and asserts that the goodwill associated with "Apollonia" is hers alone. The case is currently pending in a California federal court, where Kotero seeks a court order affirming her trademark rights and blocking the estate's claims. The estate has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.