Prince Harry and Meghan's application to trademark the name "Archetypes," the title of their podcast series, has been rejected by US officials.
The US Patent and Trademark Office cited a likelihood of confusion with an existing brand, leading them to dismiss their claims. This rejection deals a significant blow to their aspirations of securing exclusive rights to the name.
Their application aimed to cover various areas, including downloadable audio recordings, podcasts, and the cultural treatment of women and stereotypes faced by women. However, their path was obstructed by an existing trademark owned by Archetypes LLC, a firm based in Arizona. This firm had already obtained exclusive use of the name in 2015 for a series of books and articles covering topics such as nutrition, fitness, and personal improvement.
Interestingly, records indicate that both Meghan and Harry failed to sign their own application submitted to the regulatory body. This raises questions about their attention to detail and professionalism concerning their business endeavors. It's not the first time such an oversight has occurred, as Meghan made a similar error when attempting to reactivate the trademark for her lifestyle blog, The Tig.
The blow of the rejected trademark application comes shortly after the cancellation of their multi-million-pound Spotify deal. The streaming giant announced that they would not be renewing Meghan's podcast, "Archewell Audio," for a second series. In a joint statement released by Spotify, Meghan and Harry expressed mutual agreement on ending the deal and highlighted the pride they had in the series they had created together.
While the termination of the Spotify deal represents a significant setback, it's worth noting that the couple still holds other lucrative agreements. They secured a multi-million-pound deal with Netflix in 2020 and have also entered a partnership with Penguin Random House. The Netflix documentary series "Harry and Meghan" premiered in December, and Harry's memoir is scheduled to be published in January 2023.
