Known professionally as Apollonia for over 40 years since her breakout role in “Purple Rain,” Patricia Kotero is now suing Prince’s estate in federal court in California over the rights to the name.
More Than Just A Name
Kotero, who played Prince’s love interest in the 1984 film that also marked his acting debut, built much of her musical career around the Apollonia persona, Reuters reported. She released a self-titled solo album in 1988 and fronted the all-women R&B group Apollonia 6, created by Prince, alongside Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie, with backing vocals from Wendy & Lisa and Jill Jones. “Apollonia 6” is also the title of Kotero’s podcast.
In her lawsuit, Kotero argues that she should retain the rights to the Apollonia name because Prince never contested her use of it during his lifetime.
She and Prince were longtime friends until his death in 2016, according to NBC Minneapolis. Kotero claims the estate’s attempt to trademark “Apollonia” in June 2025 for clothing and entertainment is unjustified and threatens both her career and professional identity.
The complaint alleges that Paisley Park Enterprises, which manages Prince’s intellectual property, has tried to cancel Kotero’s trademark registrations and has sought control of a name that she has used for decades. The estate has been run by Prince Legacy LLC and Primary Wave, a music management company since 2022.
Kotero says all of the goodwill associated with the name Apollonia is attributable to her, and she wants a court order confirming her ownership and preventing the estate from interfering with her use, promotion, and marketing of the trademarks.
She is also seeking unspecified financial damages.
The estate contends it has the right to petition the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Kotero’s trademark based on contracts she signed in 1983 and 1984, aligned with her debut in Purple Rain.
Kotero counters that even if such contracts were valid, the alleged rights were never enforced, and any claim by the estate has long expired.
Kotero’s career highlights include touring worldwide to promote Purple Rain and her hit song from the film, Sex Shooter, providing vocals on Prince’s Take Me With You, co-writing the Bangles hit Manic Monday, appearing on the television series Falcon Crest under the Apollonia name, and releasing her solo album, Rolling Stone reported.
Her lawyer, Daniel M. Cislo, said she “fully expects to prevail in protecting her name.”
The case, Kotero v. Paisley Park Enterprises LLC, will determine whether Apollonia retains full rights to the name and trademarks that have defined her career and identity for more than four decades.
Paisley Park Enterprises LLC attempts to seize the Apollonia name coincides with, but does not mention, the new “Purple Rain” musical, set to open in October in Minneapolis, with Rachel Webb cast as a character named Apollonia, The Star Tribune reported.
67srwl