Prince’s estate has settled a trademark lawsuit brought by actor and singer Patty Kotero over the right to use her famous stage name, Apollonia.
How the dispute began
Kotero became internationally known as Apollonia after appearing opposite Prince in the 1984 film Purple Rain. She sued after the estate sought trademark protection for the name in clothing and entertainment services and moved against her existing registration.
The competing positions
Kotero argued that she had used the name for decades and maintained a personal and professional connection with Prince until his death. The estate cited agreements dating from the 1980s but said it had not attempted to stop her from performing under the name.
Settlement ends the case
The parties resolved the dispute before the court ruled on the estate’s dismissal request. Detailed terms were not publicly disclosed. Kotero said she was satisfied with the outcome.
The case highlights a recurring entertainment-industry issue: whether a stage identity belongs primarily to the performer who built a public career around it or to the business entity that originally helped create and market it.
