Meghans trademark not allowed

[Viviennemary]

The patent office apparently has turned down the trademark of Meghans new jam making business American Riviera Orchard on the grounds that you can't trademark geographical locations. You would have thought somebody would have picked up on this before now.

Sorry, "You'll be back" not "You'll see"

I think that was a warning shot to H&M that he's got evidence. So they never really pushed back against being labelled grifters by someone who is in a position to know, despite their record on litigation and other public statements to counter negative comments

You could well be right, @WinnieTheW0rm - no point in kicking the hornets' nest when the hornets have more clout - and as for Lemonada all I saw was that it had been pushed back to 2025 because they didn't want the launch to clash with that of ARO

Only now ARO seems stuck and we can't know if the Netflix cooking thing will happen as wasn't that supposed to tie in with the launch too?

What's most noticeable to me is that all these "initiatives" focus on Meghan, so god knows what Harry's doing. He's looking more like a "spare" with every passing day and I'm not sure I'd want to prop up a largely useless husband, royal or not

They've had a bumpy ride (including self-inflicted difficulties) but that doesn't mean that nothing will ever succeed

40x40 didn't take off
Meet Me At The Lake could still happen (though it's a long time since we heard anything about it)
There's no reason why the podcasts couldn't get going again (though she probably needs a new theme)
ARO could yet work, but they might have to come up with a new name, keep it under wraps until the trademarking and other admin underpinnings are properly done, and given likely timings, they might have to decouple timings from the lifestyle show (but there would still be exploitable synergies)

Travelyst seems to have failed to launch (though it's something Harry is reported to have on his agenda for NY in September)
African Parks is a mess that Harry should be doing more about
Sentebale has gone quiet in terms of Harry's involvement
Invictus Foundation does nearly all its work without Harry, but he does grab attention for them from time to time (only the Games though, not their other work)
CHIMPO at Better Up - not sure what he actually does; I assume he's still in the role, as I've seen nothing to suggest otherwise.

So yes, right now it looks as if everything has fallen a bit short. But that doesn't mean it will always be that way.

I think successes with the polo and lifestyle shows before the Netflix deal expires could make a large positive impact

I have my doubts that even the polo and 'cooking show' will materialise. Not a word from NF about them. "Meet me by the Lake" isn't going to happen.

And podcasts don't just 'get going'. The podcast field is massively overcrowded. Everyone and his pet budgie has their own podcast these days. You need an idea, a niche. Meghan clearly does not have this. You can't just 'do a podcast' because you're at a loose end. That's why Spotify dumped them.

They've had 4 years and every opportunity gifted to them. If they haven't succeeded thus far, what makes you think that will somehow change? Their only real selling point was royal adjacency, and that's gone now. They have no marketable talents, and with every month that passes they become less relevant. They had their chance, and they blew it.

The Putin, Zuckerberg and Trump idea shows the level of grandiosity doesn't it. That he actually thought it was possible. I think this stems from being brought up with Royal privilege. I am not suggesting his life has been easy, he has had a lot of pain and trauma. I am guessing though, he pretty much said what he wanted and someone organised it. Like Invictus, in his book he describes coming up with the idea and within hours/days at most he had a meeting with the guy who put on the 2012 Olympics - who then agreed to arrange Invictus within the tight timescale Harry gave him.

So huge ideas (impossible to us) would just happen. Also like the Apache flying - he expressed an interest and the army literally came to him and organised it. They came to his Dad's house and trained him there.

I think, although I can't remember - there was also a radio episode where he interviewed Obama. I bet he was asked for suggestions for guests, said 'Obama would be good' and hey presto it was arranged.

But it doesn't translate outside of Royal life - you say stuff like this to Spotify and they roll their eyes, like 'get a grip' - because he is no longer Royal and that 'power' has vanished.

right now it looks as if everything has fallen a bit short. But that doesn't mean it will always be that way

I used to hope the same, @WinnieTheW0rm, but the trouble is that - especially in the US - success tends to breed more success whereas failure's often seen as a personal weakness

There's only so much self-promotion can do once the credibility's gone, and with so many trashed projects on the list I'm just not sure who'll take a risk on them any more - and that's before you even get to their complete lack of discretion, the endless insistence that everything's everyone else's fault and the rest

And the reason why people would do it when he was Royal - was not because of who he was but because of what the institution is and what the institution represents. Queen and Country. Which still has (for many) a hugely patriotic pull, people still see it as an almost 'duty' to one's nation.

I agree with you.

I think that reputationally it is getting harder for the. Opportunities are far less likely to land readily at their feet.

I thought this year was important for them, and I think next year may prove critical. No matter how many past initiatives have failed to blossom, it does not follow that everything will go wrong.

People will still tune in to a new podcast series (and there will be more attention to the launch than other podcasters can even dream of), but of course content is what will matter after the first splash. The first venture did not live up to expectations, but there's no particular reason that any future ones will have the same fate. I have no idea whether she really can deliver; it's more that I'm not assuming that one fail = always fail.

They absolutely need the 2 Netflix shows that are in the pipeline to be successes. The rumours haven't been good, but I don't think that means they're at an endpoint. Not yet, anyway.

They absolutely need the 2 Netflix shows that are in the pipeline to be successes. The rumours haven't been good, but I don't think that means they're at an endpoint. Not yet, anyway.

It has been said, though, that the two shows have not been well received by test audiences, so does that realistically mean they are still in the pipeline 🤷‍♀️

No matter how many past initiatives have failed to blossom, it does not follow that everything will go wrong.

It kind of does. Past behaviour is the best predictor of future performance.

People will still tune in to a new podcast series (and there will be more attention to the launch than other podcasters can even dream of), but of course content is what will matter after the first splash.

I don't believe there will be another podcast but even if there is, I can't see how it could succeed when 'Archetypes', produced by the market leader in podcasting, failed. There may be some initial interest, but podcasts need to build up a sustained, loyal, audience if they are to succeed. It's very hard to see that happening here.

They absolutely need the 2 Netflix shows that are in the pipeline to be successes.

Are they even 'in the pipeline'? Not a word from NF.

I'd be shocked if NF renew their contract, whatever does or does not happen with these alleged 'shows'.

They've had 4 years and every opportunity gifted to them. If they haven't succeeded thus far, what makes you think that will somehow change? Their only real selling point was royal adjacency, and that's gone now. They have no marketable talents, and with every month that passes they become less relevant. They had their chance, and they blew it.

I think all this is true - I remember voicing some reservations when they first signed the Netflix deal and the number of posters who seemed to think any old fool could become a NF-worthy tv producer overnight. I wish I had a quid for every time someone made a comparison with Reese Witherspoon, that A list, Oscar-winning movie and tv star who has had her own production company for years 😂

I think @TheRoughWatersofLIfe is absolutely right about the assumptions that Harry makes about access being based on having been born to a position of immense privilege that meant that a team of people were dedicated to making his ideas work. I imagine it has been a huge shock to him to find how different things are for civilians.

With Meghan, I'm more baffled - she evidently had to put the hard yards in earlier in her career, and she's clearly intelligent enough to have done that. But things like 40x40 were just so shallow - I mean, what use is 40 minutes of coaching from some random famous person? And with Archetypes, it was very noticeable that she didn't seem able to avoid framing every episode round her own experience, rather than letting her guests speak and focusing on them.

It's all such a shame. I remember when they got married, I had a mixed-race woman (who had had a really difficult time in her early years) in my team and I'll never forget her saying "I feel like I belong here more now. Seeing someone who's like me."

With Meghan, I'm more baffled - she evidently had to put the hard yards in earlier in her career, and she's clearly intelligent enough to have done that. But things like 40x40 were just so shallow - I mean, what use is 40 minutes of coaching from some random famous person? And with Archetypes, it was very noticeable that she didn't seem able to avoid framing every episode round her own experience, rather than letting her guests speak and focusing on them

Maybe it's just that nobody noticed how shallow she was before because there wasn't the same attention focused on her? Just as we maybe didn't see how objectionable Harry could be because he had a very skilled PR machine behind him?

I don't doubt for a moment that there are many in Hollywood who'd give their right arm for a burger ad, a game show and a part on some cable series which was little known before Meghan joined the RF, but this really isn't A-lister stuff.
It took marriage to a prince to achieve that, except that as a result of their own actions it seems other A-listers have now gone AWOL and the gloss is wearing off fast

They just need to start a wellbeing cult with an MLM model of financial accumulation. There are plenty of stuck/lost/frightened/gullible out there with deep enough pockets. H&M can be the head gurus and worshipped in the way they want to be, as demi-gods. NXIUM collapsing has left a hole in the market.

Edit. I'm only half joking cough, Better Up

I think they are both utterly out of their depth, but more to their detriment, don't seem to realise they are. M had a degree of acting success and a pretty decent blog from what I've heard. H- well as @TheRoughWatersofLIfe said, he only had to click his fingers and any idea could be made to happen, because senior royal (and I now imagine there may have been a degree of trying to keep him happy)

None of this was grounding for the sort of projects they keep churning out, especially building a business. I think they could manage something like that, if they were savvy enough to employ and listen to experienced people and didn't seem to expect immediate results without a lot of time and effort.

Alternatively, they could lose the grandiosity and entitlement, regroup and use their considerable assets to live a comfortable quiet life somewhere. I don't see that happening though

My guess would be that Harry doesn't regret leaving the UK but probably does regret the way he did it. And I think there's also a possibility they both regret buying that house. It was such a big statement about their expectations for the future. Any 'downsizing' will be associated heavily with failure in the press and on social media. If they had just bought somewhere more modest, they wouldn't have that burden hanging over them.

Just to add. Everyone is laughing at the Norwegian princess who styles herself as a clairvoyant and her new husband, the shaman. How is this materially different from Harry the arrogant dummy, who thinks he has the answers to the world's ills and is actively working to shape society and free speech using his influence, and his wife who thinks she can talk to dead people and animals?

Well, Princess Martha Louise hasn't AFAIK written a book trashing her family, nor done an interview with Oprah ditto....

Well yes, that's rather the point. The distasteful, tacky and attention seeking actions of the Sussexes, interviews and books complete with wacky claims of communing with the dead and animals, has not stopped them from being taken seriously by governments, media and many commentators. Meanwhile, the other two are being treated with derision for doing far less damage to their families and the institution they are a part of.

....has not stopped them from being taken seriously by governments, media and many commentators.

Are they being taken seriously by governments? What governments have actually had dealings with them?

Media and commentators use them for clicks.

Has she really said she can speak to the dead and to animals? Sort of like a cross between Doris Stokes and Dr Dolittle?

Please tell me this is true. It would make my day.

@Rummly , according to Spare, she communes with the late Diana.
He took her to Althorp and found her kneeling on Diana's grave, clutching the headstone and claiming she was getting guidance.

Like Invictus, in his book he describes coming up with the idea and within hours/days at most he had a meeting with the guy who put on the 2012 Olympics - who then agreed to arrange Invictus within the tight timescale Harry gave him.

He’s so full of BS. He means this meeting where he looks like he couldn’t care less. Yet William is fully engaged and getting things done. Look at all of the people involved in putting it together, yet Harry makes out that he did it all on his own.

@Rummly - she can communicate with seals

Thank you.

I doubt Diana’s very happy about being contacted in the afterlife by a jam pedlar.

But if she is guiding Meghan I trust she’ll tell her to wear a seatbelt.