\n<\/p>\n
\n\tSinger, songwriter, and Prince<\/a> muse Apollonia filed a new lawsuit Tuesday that alleges Prince\u2019s estate<\/a>, Paisley Park Enterprises, is \u201cattempting to steal\u201d her name.<\/p>\n \n\tIn her 14-page complaint filed in federal court in Los Angeles and obtained by Rolling Stone<\/em>, Apollonia, whose real name is Patricia Apollonia Kotero, says she \u201cfamously starred\u201d as the character Apollonia, Prince\u2019s love interest, in his classic film Purple Rain<\/em>. After that, Kotero claims he never demanded that she cease using the name Apollonia and never \u201ccontended that the name did not belong to her either personally or professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIn fact, Prince himself consented to and encouraged Apollonia in her professional endeavors as \u2018Apollonia,’\u201d the lawsuit alleges. \u201cIf ever the fundamental principles of fairness \u2013 waiver, acquiescence, and laches\u00a0\u2013 apply, they apply here.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAccording to the complaint, Prince\u2019s estate was out of line when it claimed ownership of the \u201cApollonia\u201d trademark in June, filing an \u201cintent-to-use\u201d application for use in connection with clothing and entertainment services. Kotero says the estate has since taken steps to cancel her trademark registrations and applications.<\/p>\n \n\tKotero, 66, is adamant that she\u2019s the \u201crightful owner\u201d of the name, so the estate has no right to accuse her of \u201cpublic confusion.\u201d The singer-songwriter says she\u2019s been using \u201cApollonia\u201d for 40 years and deserves a court order confirming that she owns the name and its associated trademarks.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAll of the goodwill associated with the name and trademark \u2018Apollonia\u2019 for the past four decades is attributable to plaintiff,\u201d the lawsuit states. \u201cThere is only one Apollonia, and Apollonia is the source of the goods and services provided under this name.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAfter she shot to fame in Purple Rain<\/em>, Kotero embarked on a worldwide tour to promote the 1984 movie and her hit song from the film, Sex Shooter<\/em>. She and Prince became \u201clifelong friends,\u201d the lawsuit states, and she co-wrote the Bangles hit \u201cManic Monday\u201d with him. Kotero says she provided vocals on Prince\u2019s \u201cTake Me With You,\u201d using her stage name, and in 1985, she became a regular on the television series Falcon Crest<\/em>, where she played a love interest to Lorenzo Llama\u2019s character, again using the name Apollonia. Her self-titled solo album, Apollonia<\/em>, was released in 1988.<\/p>\n