Prince’s Purple Rain Co-Star Sues for Right to ‘Apollonia’ (1)

Actress and singer Patty Apollonia Kotero, Prince’s co-star in his 1984 film “Purple Rain,” filed a lawsuit against his estate seeking a court order declaring her ownership of the name “Apollonia.”

The estate has embarked on an “aggressive campaign” to cancel her trademark registrations and steal her name, and “will not stop in its efforts to acquire all things related to Prince even though it has no legal right to do so,” according to the complaint docketed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Central District of California. The complaint says Kotero has gone by “Apollonia” for more than 40 years without issue and used the mark to promote her music, sell merchandise, and advertise her podcast.

The estate didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kotero’s success in Purple Rain launched her own career and she became “an instant fan favorite known for her big hair, sultry style and musical talent,” according to the complaint. “A few years later, Apollonia released her first self-titled album, “Apollonia” with Warner Brothers.”

Kotero received trademark registrations for “Apollonia 6" and “Apollonia” for entertainment goods in 2017 and 2018, the complaint said. Prince’s estate, Paisley Park Enterprises LLC, in 2018 allegedly applied for trademark registration of “Apollonia 6" for musical goods, but the US Patent and Trademark Office refused registration due to a likelihood of confusion with Kotero’s marks.

Since the rejection, Kotero claims Prince’s estate has filed petitions to cancel her trademarks on the basis that she’s not the rightful owner. The cancellation proceedings remain pending, according to the complaint.

Kotero contends Prince himself consented to her use of the name, noting that she co-wrote the Bangles hit “Manic Monday” with him and provided vocals on his song “Take Me With You.”

The estate has told the PTO Kotero waived all her rights to the name in agreements executed in 1983 and 1984, according to the complaint. Even assuming the agreements are valid, Kotero argues they’re irrelevant because the statute of limitations expired decades ago and the estate forfeited its rights by not enforcing them.

Kotero also seeks a court order canceling the estate’s pending “Apollonia” applications and barring the estate from challenging her trademark registrations.

Cislo & Thomas LLP represent Kotero.

The case is Kotero v. Paisley Park Enter. LLC, C.D. Cal., No. 25-cv-07769, complaint filed 8/19/25.