Prince’s legacy responds to the cause of Apollonia

Prince’s legacy responded to the cause intended by Patty “Apollonia” Kotero, in whom the singer, actress and muse of the late musician of Minneapolis claims that the company is trying to prevent her from using her professional name.

According to recently filed documents at a Los Angeles court, the Paisley Park Enterprises would have attempted to record the “Apollonia” brand for proper commercial purposes. Kotero argued that, although technically he did not possess the rights on the name of the character he played in the 1984 “Purple Rain” film, Prince had always allowed her to use it, and that any contracts that claimed their ownership should have been expired for some time. In a declaration, the company defined its legal action as a “frivolous cause” and said that Kotero had failed to mention the fact that in the past she had recorded the brand, but then canceled by the competent authorities. In the same announcement it was emphasized that Apollonia was free to continue using that name, and that indeed it had been offered to do it to do so, while reiterating the intention of formally acquiring the ownership as part of the legal obligation to protect Prince’s interests.

“As she herself recognizes, ‘Apollonia’ is the name that Prince gave to the character more than 40 years ago”, says the declaration: “We have never ordered her to stop using her adopted professional name, nor have we opposed her commercial activities. Indeed, we have repeatedly offered her the opportunity to perform paisley park using this name”.

And again: “The unjustified cause of Mrs. Kotero comes after years of disputes in front of the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board regarding the brand’s recordings, with imminent decisions and on which we have tried several times to reach an agreement, despite its extremely unreasonable requests. It is not surprising that its cause does not make any reference to the cancellation of the recording of ‘Apollonia’ by the United States Patent & Trademark Office “. Providing that Apollonia’s legal action will be rejected, the society that manages the legacy of the musician who passed away in 2016, added: “As is our duty, we will continue to protect and preserve Prince’s assets and legacy”.