Meghan Markle’s attempt to establish her lifestyle brand, “American Riviera Orchard,” has hit a significant legal obstacle. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has challenged her efforts to trademark the name “American Riviera,” citing concerns over its geographic significance, particularly in relation to Santa Barbara County, California. Known as a wealthy and picturesque area, Santa Barbara is home to many affluent residents, including Meghan and Prince Harry, who live in Montecito. The USPTO argues that trademarking a well-known geographic location could negatively impact existing local businesses.

This legal snag poses a potential threat to Meghan’s ambitions for her lifestyle brand. When she initially launched the brand in March, she sent jam to several of her celebrity friends, promoting the brand with a soft launch. However, the failure to secure the trademark at the outset has now become a glaring issue. Six months later, with no new products available on the website and the trademark still unresolved, Meghan faces the prospect of having to rebrand if she cannot overcome this hurdle.

Meghan has a three-month window to respond and file a new objection, which will incur additional legal costs. If she fails to do so, she may be forced to change the brand’s name—a blow to her efforts to position herself as a lifestyle guru similar to Martha Stewart. Building a brand around a name is a crucial aspect of success in this space, and changing the name at this stage could set her plans back significantly.

The timing of this trademark issue has raised questions. Many wonder why it wasn’t addressed before the brand’s soft launch, as securing the legal rights to the brand name is a fundamental step in any business venture. Now, with this complication emerging, Meghan’s path to building her lifestyle empire appears far more challenging than anticipated.

Beyond the trademark issue, speculation has arisen about Meghan’s future, with rumors circulating about potential tensions in her personal life and the broader implications for her public persona. As Meghan navigates the legal complexities surrounding her brand, the stakes are high, and her next steps will be closely watched by both her supporters and critics.