Fans of the music superstar recently celebrated the 10th anniversary if his death. And that’s at least how long the battle over his legacy has lasted.
But one facet of Prince’s estate battle has been put to rest. The singer’s estate has settled a trademark action filed by actress, singer, and former Prince collaborator Patty Kotero, better known as Apollonia.1 She reached a confidential settlement with the estate. This ends the lawsuit that sought to enforce her right to use the name Prince gave her when she portrayed his girlfriend in his 1984 film Purple Rain.
Kotero’s attorney Daniel Cislo confirmed the settlement, remarking:
We are pleased to report that the case has been settled and that our client, Apollonia, is very pleased with the outcome. Apollonia is very happy that the parties can continue to honor the legacy of Prince and his musical genius. In a time of so much conflict, it is very good to see people coming together to resolve their dispute.2
Background
Kotero argued in her Complaint that she has used the name “Appollonia” for more than 40 years.
In the 1980’s, Apollonia was working as a singer, model, and actress when she landed a lead role in Purple Rain. She subsequently embarked on a worldwide tour to promote the film and her hit song from the film, “Sex Shooter.”
Apollonia and Prince were “lifelong friends” until his untimely death in 2016. Apollonia said that she co-wrote the Bangles hit “Manic Monday” with Prince, and she provided vocals on Prince’s song “Take Me With You.”3 In 1985, she became a regular on the TV show Falcon Crest, where she played “Apollonia,” the girlfriend of the character portrayed by Lorenzo Llamas.
For all of these years, neither Prince himself nor anyone else demanded that she stop using the name “Apollonia” or asserted that the name didn’t belong to her either personally or professionally.
Kotero said that in 2025, the estate applied for a federal “Apollonia” trademark for clothing and entertainment services; in addition, it petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Kotero’s Apollonia trademark.4 The estate claimed that it owned the rights to the name based on contracts signed by Kotero in the mid-1980s. Counsel for Paisley Park argued that Kotero consented to the use of the mark via a prior agreement and that there was no likelihood of confusion.
The Lawsuit
On August 19, 2025, Kotero sued Prince’s estate in federal district court in California, seeking a ruling that she owns the “Apollonia” name.5
The Complaint stated that “Defendants are attempting to steal this name and Plaintiff’s trademarks even though for more than 40 years Ms. Kotero – the actress, singer, songwriter, producer, and entertainer – has been known as ‘Apollonia’.”6 She went on to assert that “Prince himself consented to and encouraged Apollonia in her professional endeavors as ‘Apollonia.” If ever the fundamental principles of fairness – waiver, acquiescence, and laches apply, they apply here.” She further alleged:
All of the goodwill associated with the name and trademark “Apollonia” for the past four decades is attributable to Plaintiff. There is only one Apollonia, and Apollonia is the source of the goods and services provided under this name. Therefore, to protect her brand, Ms. Kotero owns several “Apollonia” trademark applications and registrations.
In a Motion to Dismiss, Prince’s estate replied that it never attempted to stop Kotero from using Appollonia as her stage name. “Throughout their legal dispute, Defendant has maintained that Plaintiff’s use of Apollonia as her stage name is distinguishable from (thus, not in conflict with) Defendant’s trademark use of its APOLLONIA 6 mark.”
The estate asserted that Kotero’s lawsuit was an effort to circumvent the potential ruling by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.7
In a January declaration, Kotero said that Prince “would be appalled by the unbecoming conduct” of the estate. “The truth is none of this litigation would have occurred if Prince were still alive,” she wrote in her declaration, commenting that she was afraid that losing control of the name would injure her identity and livelihood.
The estate said it had a duty to “protect and preserve Prince’s assets and legacy” in a post on the official Prince Instagram account. Moreover, the estate said it had made numerous attempts to resolve the dispute privately and had asked her to perform at Paisley Park in the Twin Cities.
Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in April 2016 at age 57 at his Paisley Park home in suburban Minneapolis.
The estate could have avoided the time, expense, and stress of this lawsuit by proactively protecting Prince’s intellectual property. And Prince could have helped by creating a comprehensive estate plan while he was alive, instead of dying without a will.
The case is Kotero v. Paisley Park Enterprises LLC, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No. 2:25-cv-07769.
1Notice of Dismissal Without Prejudice, Retrieved at https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/akpeynnlwpr/APOLLONIA%20PRINCE%20TRADEMARK%20LAWSUIT%20dismissal.pdf.
2Nancy Dillon, Apollonia ‘Very Pleased’ After Trademark War Settlement With Prince Estate, Rolling Stone (April 9, 2026). Retrieved at https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/prince-estate-apollonia-trademark-settlement-paisley-park-1235544501/.
3Blake Brittain, Prince Estate Settles Trademark Lawsuit by ‘Purple Rain’ Actress Apollonia, Reuters (April 9, 2026, updated April 15, 2026). Retrieved at https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/prince-estate-settles-trademark-lawsuit-by-purple-rain-actress-apollonia-2026-04-09/; Rachel Scharf, Prince Estate Settles With Apollonia Over ‘Purple Rain’ Co-Star’s Trademarks, Billboard (April 6, 2026). Retrieved at https://www.billboard.com/pro/prince-estate-settles-with-apollonia-over-trademarks/.
4Proceeding no. 92078316. Retrieved at https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-92078316-CAN-50.pdf.
5Complaint. Retrieved at https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.983527/gov.uscourts.cacd.983527.1.0.pdf.
6Id
7 Proceeding no. 92078316. Retrieved at https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-92078316-CAN-50.pdf.