Markle's Brand Blunder: A Tale of Names and Logos

Meghan Markle, the former royal, recently found herself in hot water over her new brand name. The name "As Ever" was rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The name was not unique. It is already used by a clothing store in New York. Mark Kolski, the owner of the clothing store, took to Instagram to express his surprise and concern. He mentioned that his brand began as a passion project in 2015. It evolved into a full-fledged clothing line in 2017. Kolski also mentioned that he doesn't own a trademark to the "As Ever" name. He believes he has "common law rights" to continue selling clothing using "As Ever". He feels powerless to take any action against Meghan's new rebrand. He is refusing to change his clothing brand's name. He is exploring all possibilities. Kolski is a very small business. It's a family-run operation. He is essentially a one-man band. This new venture has the power and money of Netflix behind it. Even if he wanted to do something, he doesn’t think he has the behemoth of lawyers and money that are behind this. The issue doesn't stop at the name. Meghan also allegedly copied the new logo for her brand. The palm tree in the center of two hummingbirds flying on the sides she used for As Ever’s logo is almost identical to a Majorcan town’s heraldic emblem. The mayor of Porreres in Mallorca, Francisca Mora, has accused the former working royal of “plagiarism. ” She talked to the local outlet El Pais and insisted: “It is a total copy. ” She added: “We don’t like our coat of arms being used, we want them to pull the logo. ” She also mentioned that to sue for plagiarism is complicated and costly. A small town council like theirs is not in a position to fight against the English crown. She also mentioned that she doesn’t know if she visited some agritourism sites and saw the coat of arms. The photo on her website is taken from Mallorca. At first, they didn’t really understand where it had come from and what their objective was in copying their coat of arms. In the world of branding, originality is key. Meghan Markle's recent blunder serves as a reminder. It is important to do thorough research before launching a new brand. The repercussions of not doing so can be significant. Kolski's response highlights the challenges faced by small businesses. They often lack the resources to protect their brand against larger, more powerful entities. The mayor's statement underscores the importance of respecting cultural and historical symbols. It is crucial to avoid appropriation and plagiarism. Meghan Markle's actions have raised questions about her brand's authenticity and integrity. It remains to be seen how she will address these issues moving forward.