Meghan Markle’s Logo For Lifestyle Brand Gets Rejected By Trademark Office

Images via 184671595 © Robyn Charnley | Dreamstime.com / American Riviera Orchard’s Instagram

Meghan Markle’s latest entrepreneurial venture has found itself in a bit of a jam. Her attempt to trademark “American Riviera Orchard” has been turned down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 

Officials have ruled that the name is “primarily geographically descriptive.” The term “American Riviera” has long been associated with Santa Barbara, particularly Montecito—home to Markle and Prince Harry.

With that, the decision issued on August 31 is nonfinal, giving Markle and her legal team a chance to appeal. The original application was filed in February 2024 as part of a broader plan to launch a lifestyle brand under the same name. The brand is expected to offer a variety of products, including home goods, cookbooks, and food items like jams and vegetable-based spreads.

Screenshot via American Riviera Orchard website

The USPTO has also flagged issues with the brand’s logo and its product descriptions, which were considered either too broad or not aligning with the visuals provided. The letter ‘O’ in the logo, in particular, seems to have been a sticking point. Officials found that the mark’s description was inconsistent, noting that the letter is so “highly stylized” that it becomes “unrecognizable.”

Image via American Riviera Orchard

Markle’s team will have to rework the logo and clarify the brand’s offerings if they want to proceed. According to the USPTO, the description provided must fully represent the elements in the logo to avoid future issues.

The Duchess of Sussex now has three months to respond to the USPTO’s feedback, with the option to appeal and tweak the design before resubmitting. 

[via Page Six, WWD, The Blast, Creative Bloq, The Mirror, images via various sources]