However, their hopes were shattered when the US Patent and Trademark Office delivered a resounding rejection. The trademark application filed by Archewell Audio, the couple's production company, was denied on grounds of likelihood and confusion with an existing brand, Archetypes LLC.
This Arizona-based firm had already obtained exclusive use of the name back in 2015 for a series of books and articles focusing on topics such as nutrition, sexuality, fitness, and psychological self-improvement.
The existing trademark proved to be a formidable obstacle for the Sussexes. Can you imagine the disappointment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle must be feeling? They had envisioned owning exclusive rights to their podcast name, a platform where they could explore the cultural treatment of women and challenge stereotypes. Their intentions were noble, but their dreams have been crushed.
Majorie Rutherford-Norman, an advocate from the prestigious law firm Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, has stepped into the situation. She has applied for a three-month extension to navigate the complexities of the Archetypes trademark application for the couple. Will she be successful in overturning the decision? Only time will tell.
Let's not forget the impact that the Archewell Audio podcast, "Archetypes," has already had. Season one premiered in August 2022 and is available on Spotify. It features notable guests such as Serena Williams, Azawi, Mariah Carey, and Mindy Kaling.
The Duchess of Sussex engaged in intimate conversations revolving around gender-specific labels and stereotypes, drawing from her own experiences as a mixed-race woman. It was a groundbreaking exploration of societal narratives and the power of dismantling harmful typecasts.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, aimed to uncover the origins of these stereotypes by involving historians and experts to shed light on their historical significance. She had uncensored conversations with women who intimately understood the impact of these typecasts on their lives. It was a platform for empowerment and change, a chance to challenge the labels that hold women back.
But now, with the denial of the trademark application, the future of the "Archetypes" podcast hangs in the balance. Will Harry and Meghan Markle be able to continue using the name despite the existing trademark, or will they be forced to rebrand and find a new identity for their powerful platform?
