Meghan Markle Faces Plagiarism Claims Over New Brand ‘As Ever’

LOS ANGELES, CA – Meghan Markle is embroiled in controversy following the announcement of her rebranded lifestyle company, ‘As Ever,’ which has drawn scrutiny for its name and logo similarities to an existing New York clothing brand and the coat of arms of a Spanish town.

The Duchess of Sussex, who revealed the rebranding on Instagram, expressed her excitement for the new endeavor, stating she has poured her heart into creating the brand. However, her announcement has raised eyebrows as Mark Kolski, the owner of a small clothing company also named ‘As Ever,’ spoke out against the situation. Kolski, 58, has operated his one-man band clothing business since 2017 and claims common law rights to the name despite not owning a trademark.

“I’m a very small business, it’s a family-run operation,” Kolski told The Sun. “This new venture has the power and money of Netflix behind it. Even if I wanted to do something, I don’t think I have the behemoth of lawyers and money that are behind this.”

As for the logo, which incorporates a palm tree and two hummingbirds, social media users quickly pointed out its resemblance to the coat of arms of Porreres, a town in Majorca, Spain. Xisca Moral, the mayoress of Porreres, expressed her shock, stating that the designs were nearly identical except for minor differences in colors and bird representations.

“We don’t like our coat of arms being used; we want them to pull the logo,” she stated, emphasizing that legal action against a high-profile figure like Markle would be complicated and costly for a small town.

Experts have weighed in on the issue, with brand and culture consultant Nick Ede noting, “This may potentially create copyright issues and a further headache for Meghan and her team.” The criticism over the brand’s launch follows recent claims regarding its similarities to already established trademarks.

Markle, 43, announced the rebranding from her previous name, ‘American Riviera Orchard,’ which had also faced trademark challenges. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied her initial application for that name, stating businesses cannot trademark geographic locations.

“Then Netflix came on, not just as my partner in the show, but as my partner in my business. This was huge,” Markle explained in her announcement. “I thought about it, and I’ve been waiting for a moment to share a name that I had secured in 2022.”

As the backlash continues online, some fans of Markle have criticized her, with one remarking, “What is she doing. Girl just stop.” Another added, “She is no longer rational and in panic mode is trying anything.” The criticisms reflect ongoing scrutiny of Markle’s business ventures, which have been closely tied to her royal status.

The launch of ‘As Ever’ is anticipated to coincide with the release of her Netflix cooking series titled ‘With Love, Meghan,’ set to premiere on March 4.