Kotero, who replaced Vanity as Prince’s love interest in the 1983 film “Purple Rain,” has maintained continuous professional use of the Apollonia name for over four decades. Her legal team emphasizes that Prince himself encouraged her use of the stage name throughout his lifetime, with no objections raised until after his 2016 death.
The Apollonia name, born on the Purple Rain set, flourished with Prince’s blessing until his untimely passing changed everything.
The dispute intensified when Paisley Park Enterprises LLC, the entity managing Prince’s estate, petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in June 2025 to cancel Kotero‘s existing trademarks. The estate simultaneously filed its own application for the “Apollonia” trademark, asserting ownership rights based on contracts allegedly signed by Kotero in 1983 and 1984.
“This represents a clear attempt to strip me of my professional identity after decades of unchallenged use,” Kotero reportedly stated in court documents, highlighting her ongoing career endeavors including hosting the “Apollonia Studio 6” podcast since 2022 and selling related merchandise.
Prince’s estate contends that the original contractual agreements grant them ownership of the name for use in clothing and entertainment services. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, escalating the trademark dispute to federal jurisdiction. Legal experts note the unusual timing of the estate’s claims, coming nearly a decade after Prince’s death and years after Kotero secured her trademark registrations.
The case has drawn attention from entertainment law specialists who point out the complexities of stage name ownership when associated with iconic cultural productions. The lawsuit underscores growing tensions between artists and estates of deceased collaborators over intellectual property rights that span decades of entertainment history. This dispute shows similarities to the earlier controversy involving Morris Day’s name which was resolved with Day retaining rights to perform as “the Time.”
A preliminary hearing is expected later this year, with industry observers closely monitoring potential implications for other artists with stage names connected to influential producers or entertainment companies. Music industry analysts suggest that Kotero could have strengthened her legal position by registering her stage name with performance rights organizations that help protect creators’ intellectual property. For aspiring artists watching this case unfold, it highlights the importance of personal branding when establishing a long-term career in the entertainment industry.
