Meghan Markle has been barred from selling clothing under her latest As Ever brand after it was revealed that a Chinese fashion firm had already been using the name.
A Recent York-based clothier had previously raised the alarm after the Duchess unveiled the brand new name, insisting that he won’t change his name and is “exploring all possibilities.”
Amid Meghan Markle’s diverse creative efforts, “Suits” creator Aaron Korsh prolonged an open invitation to reprise her role within the hit legal series.
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Meghan Markle Banned From Selling Clothes Under As Ever
Meghan’s business enterprise has suffered a large blow over trademark issues.
The Duchess of Sussex recently announced that she was changing her brand name from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever, but it surely seems that a Chinese clothing company had already been using it since.
In her application on the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in October 2022, Meghan’s attorney filed to sell aprons and other clothing items under the As Ever name.
Nonetheless, in accordance with the Day by day Mail, the USPTO later issued a 145-page “partial rejection” of her application due to its striking similarity to Chinese “fast fashion” brand ASEVER.
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“The marks are an identical in sound and virtually an identical in appearance and are thus confusingly similar for the needs of determining likelihood of confusion,” USPTO’s response to Meghan’s bid read.
“Registration of the applied-for mark is refused due to a likelihood of confusion,” the document added.
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The Duchess Secured A Bid To Use As Ever For Other Products
Meghan secured rights to make use of As Ever after her lawyers filed a revised application in January 2024, removing any mention of clothing.
The trademark issue over her clothing line’s name raises doubt about whether or not they conducted extensive research into the trademark status of the name.
In keeping with the news outlet, a Los Angeles trademark lawyer said the previous “Suits” actress “risks being sued” if she proceeds with selling clothing under the As Ever brand name.
Meanwhile, her As Ever products will likely be sold along side Netflix, which is able to launch her latest lifestyle show “With Love, Meghan” on March 4.
They will likely be available for purchase on the streaming giant’s stand-alone stores in Dallas and Philadelphia, in addition to online through Netflix’s shopping site and her own website.
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Meghan Markle Faces The Same Issue With Recent York-Based Brand
A Recent York-based clothing brand with the identical name has also spoken up after the announcement of Meghan’s brand makeover.
The corporate’s founder, Mark Kolski, took to Instagram on the time to handle the problem.
“Wow and hello,” Kolski wrote in an Instagram statement. “I would like to say thanks to all of the old friends who know and love our small family brand As Ever and likewise say hi to all those that have just change into aware we exist.”
“Within the last 36 hours there was an outpouring of support and concern regarding recent events around our namesake brand,” the statement continued. “We’re aware. We usually are not affiliated.”
Kolski identified that although he launched his business in 2017, the project had been down under since 2015, adding that they operate out of Recent York and Recent Jersey.
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“We’re grateful for all the purchasers coast to coast and worldwide which have supported our enterprise. We’ll proceed As Ever,” the statement concluded.
The NYC Designer Is ‘Exploring All Possibilities’ As He Plans To Keep His Brand’s Name
In an interview with The Sun, Kolski revealed that his brand is not going to be changing its name from As Ever, despite Meghan picking up the brand new moniker for her lifestyle enterprise.
While noting that he feels powerless to act against Meghan, the designer said he’s “exploring all possibilities” to make sure he comes out on top.
“I’m a really small business, it is a family-run operation. I’m essentially a one-man band,” Kolski claimed. “This latest enterprise has the ability and money of Netflix behind it.”
“Even when I desired to do something I do not think I even have the behemoth of lawyers and money which can be behind this,” he added.
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Meghan Markle Could Reprise Her Role In ‘Suits’
Meanwhile, Meghan’s acting chops could potentially come into use again as she has received an “open invitation” to reprise her role in “Suits.”
Meghan played lawyer Rachel Zane on the hit legal series from 2011 to 2018 before leaving to marry Prince Harry and move to England.
Talking to People Magazine on the premiere of the show’s spinoff, “Suits LA” on Thursday, the show’s creator, Aaron Korsh, shared that the mother-of-two could return to the show anytime and “under any circumstances.”
“We now have considered whether or not it’s Meghan or any of the opposite solid members coming on and playing themselves as an actor,” Korsh told the news outlet. “I feel, for me, that is a little bit … my brain blows up on the considered that. Obviously, if Meghan wants to return back under any circumstances, Meghan can come back.”
“In fact [she can come back]. At all times,” Korsh added. “But I feel, realistically, it will be an excessive amount of of an explosion of the fourth wall to try this.”
