BREAKING: Meghan receives huge blow as request for lifestyle brand rejected
Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, has suffered a setback after her US trademark application was rejected.
The Duchess of Sussex has now been given three months to respond to the “nonfinal officer action” issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
She has been warned that failure to do so could result in her application being abandoned.
In their consideration of her trademark bid, Meghan was also told she needed to cough up another $700 (£532) if she wanted to proceed after failing to pay the correct fee initially.
In their 48-page action, USPTO officials explained why Meghan’s trademark bid failed to be successful.
The reasons included a requirement to amend the identification of goods, a multiple-class application requirement and a requirement to disclaim Riviera’s descriptive wording.
Anyone applying for a US trademark runs the risk of refusal because the mark is geographically descriptive and could prevent others from being able to describe their products
The Duchess’s bid also fell foul as the descriptions of the products wanting to be trademarked were too broad.
These included ‘cocktail napkins’, ‘pans’, and ‘cooking utensils, namely, strainers, spoons, forks, spatulas, tongs, spreaders, whisks’ and ‘soap dispensers.
A US source told the Express: “The process for acquiring a trademark is extremely rigorous. It would be a surprise if Meghan had not received one before in trying to get her application through.
She is still very much committed to her brand and has three months to respond. There is no way this will lead to abandonment.
A trademark application first submitted on February 2 outlined plans to sell kitchenware, drinkware and jams under the name American Riviera Orchard, which has yet to put a single product on sale five months after its Instagram launch.
It was filed with USPTO by the company Mama Knows Best, LLC.
Two further applications connected with American Riviera Orchard have been filed by the company so far.
Mama Knows Best, LLC, is registered at the same Beverly Hills address as Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Organisation.
So far, Meghan’s wares have been shared only with celebrity friends, who showcased her preserve on social media in April.
The brand’s Instagram page, which has attracted 614,000 followers, and website currently remain bare, with no option yet for customers to buy products.
In addition to her trademark woes, reports have emerged that Meghan is struggling to hire a permanent chief executive for the company.
Potential candidates are said to be put off the job by the high turnover among her staff at Archewell, which was established in 2020 to oversee Sussex’s commercial and charitable operations.
Last month, Josh Kettler, Harry’s chief of staff, left his role after three months, becoming the ninth employee to leave the couple’s office in three years.
Archewell representatives have declined to comment on the reports, but sources close to Meghan, who is serving as the chief executive, have rubbished the rumours.
