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Meg’s Podcast Nullified as Key Employees Quit Archetype’s Project, Forcing Duchess of Sussex to Withdraw Trademark Bid
In a stunning turn of events, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been forced to withdraw her bid to trademark the name “Archewell Audio” after seven key employees quit Archetype's project due to unpaid salaries.
This setback comes as a blow to Meghan's quest to protect the name, which began in March of last year when the application was first lodged.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected Meghan's trademark application in January, citing the likelihood of confusion with an existing trademark of the same name.
The word “Archewell,” which dates back 470 years in the English language, had already been registered by US-based company Project Miracle IP Holdings in May 2018.
Financial constraints ultimately led Meghan to abandon her pursuit of the trademark.
Sources reveal that the Duchess lacked the necessary funds to cover the costs of the legal battle.
This unfortunate turn of events has also impacted Archewell Audio's operations, as Meghan is now unable to pay her staff's salaries.
This morning, all core staff members, including Harrison Colcord, Beth Harrelly, Clara Loughlin, Sean Annett, Miranda Barbet, Chanel Sinek, and Serena Regan, removed their job titles at Archewell Audio from their LinkedIn profiles.
This serves as further evidence that Meghan was unable to fulfill her obligation to pay her employees.
The repercussions of this failed trademark application extend beyond the financial realm.
Many individuals who invested time, money, and effort into fighting the trademark application now find themselves disappointed.
Meghan's use of lawyers to intimidate and coerce others into submission has left a bitter taste in the mouths of those affected.
While her bid was unsuccessful this time, it is disheartening to witness the impact on a small company caught off guard by the actions of a high-profile figure.
Moreover, it appears that Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry may also be on shaky ground as her investment in Archewell Audio falters.
Reports suggest that she spent a significant sum of $100,000 on public relations at the Invictus Games, which may explain her desperation to maximize returns.
It is disconcerting to observe how Archewell Audio primarily attaches its name to charitable endeavors to create an appearance of legitimacy, while allegedly allocating a mere 5% of revenue to charity and keeping the remaining 95% for themselves.
The strain on Meghan and Harry's relationship is further evidenced by Harry's lack of involvement in supporting Meghan during this challenging period.
Speculation has arisen about the potential relocation of their show to another platform, such as Amazon.
However, recent documents from the USPTO suggest that any platform migration would likely require a rebranding effort.
In a separate blow to Meghan's ambitions, her multi-million-pound Spotify deal was axed in June of this year.
The Archewell Audio podcast, which failed to secure a second season, was officially discontinued due to a lack of content production.
Insiders familiar with the £15 million deal signed by the couple in 2020 claim that the decision was made because Meghan and Harry did not deliver enough content to justify the full payout.
