A legal dispute over the use of a stage name tied to one of pop music’s most recognizable eras has been quietly resolved. Apollonia, the singer and actress closely associated with Prince’s 1984 film Purple Rain, has reached a confidential settlement with the late artist’s estate, ending a lawsuit that centered on her right to continue using the name he gave her decades ago.
Court filings show that both parties agreed to dismiss the case, with each side covering its own legal fees. While the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, a key development suggests a resolution in Apollonia’s favor: the estate has withdrawn its attempt to cancel her “Apollonia 6” trademark before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The lawsuit, filed in 2025, stemmed from Apollonia’s claim that the estate was attempting to assert control over the name she has used professionally since she collaborated with Prince. Born Patricia Kotero, she adopted the name “Apollonia” at Prince’s direction when she starred opposite him in Purple Rain, a role that helped define her public identity.
In her complaint, she argued that the estate’s actions, including efforts to cancel her trademarks and secure rights to the name, threatened her ability to continue working under it. She sought a judicial declaration affirming her ownership and use of the name, stating that without such protection, she risked losing control over both her brand and livelihood.
Apollonia also maintained that Prince himself never sought to trademark the name during his lifetime. She argued that it was inappropriate for the estate to attempt to claim rights years after he died in 2016.
Representatives for the Prince estate framed their actions as part of a broader responsibility to manage and protect Prince’s intellectual property. In public statements, the estate said it had no intention of preventing Apollonia from using her name, but maintained that trademark-related issues should be handled through appropriate legal channels.
The estate also suggested that it had attempted to resolve the matter privately before the dispute escalated to litigation. At one point, it extended offers for Apollonia to participate in events connected to Prince’s legacy, including performances at Paisley Park.
In court filings, the estate argued that any disagreement over ownership or usage rights should be decided administratively through trademark proceedings rather than through a federal lawsuit.
The case was resolved just days before a scheduled court hearing on the estate’s motion to dismiss. The timing suggests both parties opted to avoid further litigation, which could have drawn greater scrutiny to the handling of Prince’s legacy and its associated intellectual property.
Apollonia’s attorney confirmed that his client was satisfied with the outcome, describing the settlement as a positive resolution that allows both sides to continue honoring Prince’s work.
Although the agreement itself remains confidential, the estate’s decision to abandon its trademark challenge is widely seen as a practical concession. It effectively removes the most immediate legal threat to Apollonia’s continued use of the name.
Apollonia is expected to continue performing and working under the name that first brought her public recognition.
Hip-hop duo Outkast has formally resolved their trademark lawsuit against an Atlanta-based electronic music duo performing under the name ATLiens, ending a legal dispute that centered on ownership of one of hip-hop’s most recognizable coined terms. Court filings submitted on Feb. 19 in the U.S. District Court in Georgia state... Read More »
Apollonia is pushing back against efforts by Prince’s estate to assert control over the stage name she has used for more than four decades, arguing that the late musician explicitly wanted her to continue performing and working under the identity he helped create. In a declaration filed Friday in federal... Read More »
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Salt-N-Pepa against Universal Music Group, dealing a significant setback to the pioneering rap duo’s effort to reclaim ownership of their early recordings. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York granted UMG’s motion to dismiss the case,... Read More »
The estate of Prince has rejected a new lawsuit filed by singer and actress Patricia Apollonia Kotero, better known simply as Apollonia, over the rights to use her stage name. In a sharp rebuttal issued on Instagram, representatives of the estate dismissed the suit as “frivolous” and insisted that they... Read More »
