Meghan Markle’s
Meghan Markle’s podcast production company Archewell Audio has been refused a trademark application for the word “Archetypes” by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The application was rejected on the grounds of a “likelihood of confusion” with an existing trademark held by US-based Project Miracle IP Holdings, which was registered in May 2018. The proposed trademark was intended to be used in connection with the Archetypes podcast series, which explores and challenges cultural treatment and stereotypes of women. The rejection means that Meghan’s company has until April to pursue the application, extend or abandon it. If the trademark is not granted, the podcast can still proceed without it, but the current holder could take infringement action if they feel it could cause commercial damage. Intellectual property lawyer Paul Cox suggested the options for Meghan and her company include filing arguments to try to overcome the refusal, trading under the name without a registration in the US, or seeking to buy the rights to the existing trademark.