Meghan Markle's Brand Stumbles: Trademark Troubles and a Questionable Name

Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, is facing some serious hurdles before it even hits the shelves. The brand has been denied a trademark for its name by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) because, well, 'American Riviera' is basically synonymous with Santa Barbara, California. You can't trademark a place, folks! Seems like a pretty basic oversight, right? But wait, there's more! The brand is also facing challenges with its logo, which the USPTO says doesn't match the description in the application. Question:Did the brand's team rush the application process? Or is there something more to this story? Adding to the drama, the USPTO also flagged descriptions for some of the products American Riviera Orchard plans to sell as too broad. Bath soap, cocktail napkins, pans, cooking utensils –is this brand really going to be a one-stop shop for everything? Or are they trying to cast a wide net to appeal to as many people as possible? The company has reportedly received several office actions as part of its ongoing trademark application, and a source says this is routine. But is it really? Or is this a sign of deeper problems? Adding another layer of complexity, there's speculation that Markle may change the name of her brand entirely. What if this name change is simply a strategic maneuver to avoid further trademark issues? Or could it be a sign that the brand isn't as strong as initially thought? The launch date for American Riviera Orchard is still unknown, but it seems like this brand has a long way to go before it can truly blossom. What lessons can we learn from this situation about the importance of careful planning and execution when launching a new brand? And what does this say about the challenges faced by celebrities trying to break into the business world? Only time will tell what the future holds for American Riviera Orchard.