Singer, songwriter, and Prince muse Apollonia filed a new lawsuit Tuesday that alleges Prince’s estate, Paisley Park Enterprises, is “attempting to steal” her name.
In her 14-page complaint filed in federal court in Los Angeles and obtained by Rolling Stone, Apollonia, whose real name is Patricia Apollonia Kotero, says she “famously starred” as the character Apollonia, Prince’s love interest, in his classic film Purple Rain. After that, Kotero claims he never demanded that she cease using the name Apollonia and never “contended that the name did not belong to her either personally or professionally.”
“In fact, Prince himself consented to and encouraged Apollonia in her professional endeavors as ‘Apollonia,’” the lawsuit alleges. “If ever the fundamental principles of fairness – waiver, acquiescence, and laches – apply, they apply here.”
According to the complaint, Prince’s estate was out of line when it claimed ownership of the “Apollonia” trademark in June, filing an “intent-to-use” application for use in connection with clothing and entertainment services. Kotero says the estate has since taken steps to cancel her trademark registrations and applications.
Kotero, 66, is adamant that she’s the “rightful owner” of the name, so the estate has no right to accuse her of “public confusion.” The singer-songwriter says she’s been using “Apollonia” for 40 years and deserves a court order confirming that she owns the name and its associated trademarks.
“All of the goodwill associated with the name and trademark ‘Apollonia’ for the past four decades is attributable to plaintiff,” the lawsuit states. “There is only one Apollonia, and Apollonia is the source of the goods and services provided under this name.”
After she shot to fame in Purple Rain, Kotero embarked on a worldwide tour to promote the 1984 movie and her hit song from the film, Sex Shooter. She and Prince became “lifelong friends,” the lawsuit states, and she co-wrote the Bangles hit “Manic Monday” with him. Kotero says she provided vocals on Prince’s “Take Me With You,” using her stage name, and in 1985, she became a regular on the television series Falcon Crest, where she played a love interest to Lorenzo Llama’s character, again using the name Apollonia. Her self-titled solo album, Apollonia, was released in 1988.
According to the complaint, Prince’s estate purportedly claimed that Kotero waived all of her rights related to the name Apollonia when she signed a 1983 contract for her Purple Rain role.
However, Kotero says in the lawsuit that even if she entered into a valid, enforceable contract wherein Prince retained all rights to the “Apollonia” name, the ownership was “never enforced,” so the “alleged rights” expired “long ago.”
“Our client fully expects to prevail in protecting her name,” Kotero’s lawyer, Daniel M. Cislo, said in an email to Rolling Stone.
Attempts to reach a representative for Prince’s estate were not immediately successful on Tuesday. Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 57. He had no will and no children, so his six siblings inherited equal interests in his estate.