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Prince<\/a>\u2019s estate has responded to a lawsuit filed by Patty \u201cApollonia\u201d Kotero<\/a> in which she said the corporation was attempting to prevent her from using her professional name.<\/p>\n Paperwork recently filed at an L.A. court included the claims that the estate wanted to trademark \u201cApollonia\u201d for its own commercial purposes.<\/p>\n She argued that even though she technically didn\u2019t own the name of the character she played in 1984 movie Purple Rain<\/a><\/em>, Prince had always allowed her to use it, and any contracts that included claims over it should have expired.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>Prince Estate Afraid of His Humanity, Says Axed Movie Creator<\/a><\/p>\n In a statement<\/a>, the estate called her application a \u201cfrivolous lawsuit,\u201d and said she\u2019d failed to mention that she\u2019d trademarked the name herself, although the registration had been canceled by authorities.<\/p>\n The announcement contained the suggestion that Apollonia was free to continue using the name, that the estate had in fact offered her opportunities to do so \u2013 but still intended to secure ownership as part of its legal requirement to protect Prince\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n \u201cAs she acknowledges, \u2018Apollonia\u2019 is the name Prince gave to the character\u2026 over 40 years ago,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWe never instructed her to cease using her adopted professional name, nor did we object to her business activities. In fact, we repeatedly offered her opportunities to perform at Paisley Park using this professional name.<\/p>\n \u201cMs. Kotero\u2019s unwarranted lawsuit comes [after] years-long disputes before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board concerning trademark registrations, in which rulings are imminent and with respect to which we have sought a settlement numerous times, despite her highly unreasonable demands.<\/p>\n \u201cUnsurprisingly, her suit fails to acknowledge the cancellation of her \u2018Apollonia\u2019 registration by the United States Patent & Trademark Office.\u201d<\/p>\n Predicting that Apollonia\u2019s lawsuit would be dismissed, the estate added: \u201cAs is our duty, we will continue to protect and preserve Prince\u2019s assets and legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n The prolific, genre-blending musician’s fashion sense evolved just as often as his music during his four decades in the public eye.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Matthew Wilkening<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPrince Estate Condemns Apollonia\u2019s Unreasonable Demands<\/h3>\n
Prince Year by Year: 1977-2016 Photographs<\/h2>\n