Prince Harry, Meghan Markle in trademark dispute with Filipino business owner–report

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly in a dispute with a Filipino business owner named Victor Martin Soriano over the name Archewell Harvatera.

Archewell is the name the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are using for their nonprofit organization, which is said to lead to their opposition of Soriano’s use of the term Archewell Harvatera through their legal entity Cobblestone Lane LLC.

According to World Trademark Review (WTR), Soriano applied for the name Archewell Harvatera in July 2020 for his cosmetics and fragrance line.

A month after his application was posted by the Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Soriano said he received an opposition notice from Cobblestone Lane LLC.

The notice said it was a “motion for extension of time to file verified notice of opposition.”

“Opposer is still working on the Verified Notice of Opposition and other supporting documents. It is also awaiting certified copies of registration certificates and other documentary evidence,” read a part of the letter, which was shared on Twitter by an account named Archewell Harvatera.

“Opposer will need additional time to notarize and apostille the documents in USA and have the original documents couriered to the Philippines,” it added.

Thank you, thank you #Toadours dear Toad for your shoutout! pic.twitter.com/6vZsV3ZapX

— ARCHEWELL HARVATERA (@viktorphilippi1) February 2, 2021

The Twitter account also posted a video showing a deodorant product called “Royal Tawas” under the trademark Archewell Harvatera. The post was later deleted.

There was also a tweet about a business owner from Iloilo named Gina Agnes Sarabia who had registered the name Archewell for her jewelry business.

The trademark, which was applied for in July 2020 and reached registration at IPOPHL in December, is already being used by her company, according to WTR.

“Archewell is now a registered trademark in the Philippines (and it’s not a former British colony). English laws don’t work here,” said a tweet, sharing a photo of the application document at IPOPHL.

ARCHEWELL is now a registered trademark in the Philippines (And it's not a former British colony). English laws don't work here. pic.twitter.com/tGR0prkHDy

— ARCHEWELL HARVATERA (@viktorphilippi1) December 19, 2020

It also said the opposer “won’t talk to me. I’m well aware of the expiration 28 December but I’m so in the dark about their extensions. Shouldn’t I have at least a carbon copy cc, no? So I can reply truthfully first hand to them. I get lost in their legal jargon #ArchewellHarvatera #Archewell.” 

They won't talk to me. I'm well aware of the expiration 28 December but Im so in the dark about their extensions. Shouldnt I have at least a carbon copy cc, no? So I can reply truthfully first hand to them. i get lost in their legal jargon #ArchewellHarvatera #Archewell

— ARCHEWELL HARVATERA (@viktorphilippi1) February 2, 2021

WTR said a month after receiving the notice of opposition, Soriano filed a new trademark application at IPOPHL for the term “Archewell Cosmetics.”

According to The Daily Guardian columnist Herbert Vego, Soriano “expressed confidence that the Intellectual Property Office would pay no credence to Cobblestone’s opposition since, being a foundation, Archewell is not a business competitor of Archewell Harvatera.”

WTR said this wasn’t the first time the royal couple encountered hurdles with their brand.

It said the previous name of their organization, Sussex Royal, went through several oppositions, “unauthorized trademark applications and an intervention from the Queen,” leading them to decide on a new name—Archewell. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News