The Duchess of Sussex seeks more time to resolve ongoing issues with her lifestyle brand’s trademark application.

Meghan Markle is grappling with another hurdle as she faces an important deadline for her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Her legal team has requested additional time to resolve issues surrounding the trademark application, which could delay her brand’s progress.

The application for her American Riviera Orchard brand, which launched earlier this year, has been beset with complications. Markle’s representatives reached out to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requesting an extension to address issues identified in the initial submission. This comes after a rejection in August when the Duchess was given three months to rectify errors in the filing. With the new deadline fast approaching, Markle’s team is now asking for another three months to correct the paperwork and avoid having to start the entire process over again.

In the earlier stages, Meghan’s application was marred by simple but significant mistakes. The documents were submitted without a signature, and the payment fell short of the required amount. As if that wasn’t enough, another company, American Riviera, challenged her filing. This well-established brand, founded in 1934, expressed concerns about the potential for confusion between the two names. The company’s products are sold worldwide, and with annual sales amounting to £1.7 billion, it has a considerable stake in protecting its brand.

Despite the setbacks, a source close to Meghan defended her application process, describing the back-and-forth with the USPTO as “routine and expected when filing for trademarks.” However, the challenges don’t end there. USPTO has informed Meghan that it cannot grant her exclusive rights to the term “American Riviera” as it refers to a widely recognised region of California, where she resides. This limitation on the name is a significant blow to her hopes of securing the brand name in its entirety.

In addition to the geographical issue, the application also ran into trouble over the broad nature of the product classifications listed. Among the items specified were gardening tools, household goods, soap dispensers, and linen—products that seemed to cover a vast array of goods, prompting concerns from USPTO examiners about the legitimacy of the brand’s scope.

Markle’s lifestyle brand, which has been closely watched by both supporters and critics, was initially introduced through an Instagram page earlier this year. Despite the regulatory obstacles, her team remains determined to resolve the issue and push forward with the venture. This is yet another chapter in Meghan’s ongoing journey as she builds a personal empire, seeking to carve out a space for herself in the competitive world of lifestyle brands.

The looming deadline highlights the high-stakes nature of the venture, as failing to resolve these trademark issues could delay the brand’s launch indefinitely. However, given the nature of the trademark process and the setbacks that are often encountered, it’s clear that the Duchess of Sussex will continue navigating these challenges with the same resilience she has demonstrated throughout her career.

As Meghan waits for a response from the USPTO, all eyes will be on how this situation unfolds, with the potential to reshape her business aspirations.