Apollonia files lawsuit against Prince’s estate, accusing them of trying to “steal’ her name

Singer and songwriter Apollonia has filed a new lawsuit against Prince’s estate, accusing them of trying to “steal” her name.

The artist, real name Patricia Apollonia Kotero, starred in Prince’s Purple Rain film, playing his love interest who has the name Apollonia.

She has now filed a 14-page complaint against the late singer’s estate, Paisley Park Enterprises, in a Los Angeles federal court, accusing them of “attempting to steal” her name.

In the suit, Kotero claims that, after starring in Purple Rain, Prince never asked her to stop going by the name Apollonia and did not “contend that the name did not belong to her either personally or professionally,” as per Rolling Stone.

She alleges it was on the contrary, and that “Prince himself consented to and encouraged Apollonia in her professional endeavors” using that name. She has now used the name for over four decades and released numerous projects under the alias.

Due to this, her legal team alleges, the estate was out of line when it tried to claim ownership of the Apollonia trademark in June – filing an “intent-to-use” application that would allow it to use the name in connection with clothing and entertainment services.

Kotero has also claimed that Paisley Park Enterprises have made moves to try and cancel her trademark applications and registrations, despite her being the “rightful owner”.

“All of the goodwill associated with the name and trademark ‘Apollonia’ for the past four decades is attributable to plaintiff,” the lawsuit states, as reported by Rolling Stone who obtained the filing. “There is only one Apollonia, and Apollonia is the source of the goods and services provided under this name.”

The complaint also suggests that the estate claimed that Kotero waived her rights to the name in 1983 when she signed a contract for her role in the Purple Rain film. Contesting this, Kotero’s lawsuit said that, even if that were true, it was “never enforced” and that the “alleged rights” would have expired by now.

“Our client fully expects to prevail in protecting her name,” Kotero’s lawyer, Daniel M. Cislo, said in an email to Rolling Stone. Paisley Park Enterprises have not yet issued a public statement about the suit.

As aforementioned, Kotero has used the ‘Apollonia’ alias for over 40 years now, and used the name when promoting the film and accompanying song ‘Sex Shooter’ in 1984. The filing also states that she and Prince were “lifelong friends”, and she both co-wrote the Bangles hit ‘Manic Monday’ with him and provided vocals on his song ‘Take Me With You’ using the stage name.

She also used the name Apollonia when she starred regularly on the TV series Falcon Crest – playing the romantic interest of Lorenzo Llama’s character – and dropped a solo album in 1988 called ‘Apollonia’.

Prince died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016, aged 57.

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