Trademark Dispute Raises Questions on Future of Duchess of Sussex’s New Venture, American Riviera Orchard
Meghan Markle’s ambitious plans to launch her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, have encountered a substantial obstacle. The Duchess of Sussex, who initially introduced the brand in April, now faces a legal challenge that could stall her progress indefinitely.
Recent reports indicate that a complaint was lodged by the established brand ‘Royal Riviera,’ owned by Harry & David since 1934, citing potential confusion between the two names. With an annual turnover of £1.7 billion and over 3,300 employees, the company raised concerns of a "likelihood of confusion" that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office found credible. Consequently, the issue has been referred to Trademark Examining Attorney Marco Wright for further review.
According to royal expert Richard Eden, this legal setback has been described as a “multi-billion-dollar problem” for Meghan, possibly derailing her dream of a prominent lifestyle brand.
