Porreres officials say they lack resources to take legal action

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing allegations of copying a small Mallorcan town’s coat of arms for the logo of her newly rebranded lifestyle business, As Ever. Despite concerns raised by officials in Porreres, Spain, the town’s mayor admitted they lack the financial resources to pursue legal action against the Duchess.

On Monday, Meghan Markle officially announced the relaunch of her lifestyle company, previously named American Riviera Orchard, following trademarking difficulties. The rebranded company, now called As Ever, features a new logo—a palm tree flanked by two hummingbirds with outstretched wings.

However, officials in Porreres claim the design bears a striking resemblance to the town’s official coat of arms, which features a palm tree with two swallows on either side. Speaking to El País, the town’s mayor, Xisca Mora, asserted that As Ever’s logo “is a total copy” of Porreres’ historic symbol, which dates back to 1370.

Legal challenges too costly for the small town

On Tuesday, Mora met with the legal team of the City Council to explore possible actions, but ultimately conceded that the town lacks the financial means to challenge Meghan Markle legally.

“Reporting plagiarism is complicated and expensive, and a small town hall like ours is not in a position to fight against the English crown,” Mora explained.

Despite the legal hurdles, the mayor intends to formally request that Meghan’s company modify its logo, emphasizing its historical significance to the town. The symbol has been prominently featured on numerous buildings throughout Porreres for centuries.

‘Shocked’ by the similarities

In an interview with MailOnline, Mora expressed her astonishment upon discovering the striking similarities between the two designs.

“We are still a bit shocked. We thought it was fake news at first; we didn’t know what was happening,” she said. “Then loads of newspapers and media started calling us, and we realized it was serious.”

Mora acknowledged that while the birds and colors in each design differ, the overall resemblance is “undeniable” and the logos are “nearly identical.”

Meghan’s team defends the logo design

Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson for Meghan and Prince Harry defended the brand’s choice of logo in a statement to The Independent.

“The logo incorporates a palm tree as a nod to The Duke and Duchess’ home in California, along with two hummingbirds—a favorite of Prince Harry’s,” the statement read. “The distinct shape enclosing the birds and tree was intentionally designed to create a unique and personal emblem. As part of the process, comprehensive global searches of registered trademarks were conducted.”

Trademark disputes beyond the coat of arms

Alongside the logo dispute, Meghan’s brand name, As Ever, has also drawn attention. A New York-based clothing brand of the same name publicly clarified that it is not affiliated with the Duchess’s company.

“In the last 36 hours, there has been an outpouring of support and concern regarding recent events around our namesake brand. We are aware. We are not affiliated,” said Mark Kolski, the owner of the New York brand, in a statement.

Although Kolski does not hold a trademark for the name As Ever, he has been using it for his clothing business since 2017. In an interview with The U.S. Sun, Kolski admitted he is “exploring all possibilities” regarding the situation.

“This new venture has the power and money of Netflix behind it,” he noted. “Even if I wanted to do something, I don’t think I have the behemoth of lawyers and money that are behind this.”

Markle’s rebranding journey amid legal hurdles

The controversy arises as Meghan prepares to launch her upcoming Netflix lifestyle series, With Love. In a video announcement, filmed in her family’s garden, Prince Harry could be heard saying, “It’s recording,” before Meghan revealed her new brand.

“I’m shocked we’ve kept this a secret for so long. In two weeks, my show is coming out, which I’m so excited for. And also my business, which I think there has been a lot of curiosity about,” she stated.

Meghan initially attempted to trademark American Riviera Orchard in mid-2024 but faced rejection in August due to the generic nature of the term “American Riviera.” Regulatory challenges and extension requests ultimately led to the decision to rebrand as As Ever.

The Duchess’s office has maintained that such setbacks are “routine and expected” in trademark applications. However, with ongoing disputes surrounding her new brand’s name and logo, the controversy surrounding As Ever is far from over.

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