AceShowbiz - Apollonia Kotero has reached a confidential settlement with the estate of Prince, resolving a legal conflict concerning her right to use the name he gave her during their collaboration on the iconic 1984 film Purple Rain.

The lawsuit, initiated by Apollonia in August, sought a judicial declaration protecting her use of the "Apollonia" name and related trademarks, including "Apollonia 6." The dispute arose after the estate challenged her trademark registrations, filing to cancel them before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

On Wednesday, both parties filed a joint notice of dismissal, announcing the case was settled but keeping the terms confidential. Importantly, the estate also withdrew its attempt to cancel Apollonia's trademark for "Apollonia 6," signaling that she will continue to use the name publicly.

Daniel M. Cislo, Apollonia's attorney, expressed satisfaction with the resolution in a statement to Rolling Stone. He said, "We are pleased to report that the case has been settled and that our client, Apollonia, is very pleased with the outcome." He added that the settlement allows both sides to honor Prince's legacy and musical genius, emphasizing the positive nature of resolving disputes amicably.

In her original lawsuit, Apollonia (legal name Patricia Kotero) accused the estate of "attempting to steal" her name. She argued that Prince never trademarked the name prior to his death in April 2016 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. She asserted that the estate's actions last June to claim control over the "Apollonia" trademark and seek cancellation of her registrations were improper.

The Prince estate, through a statement on its official Instagram account, acknowledged its responsibility to protect and preserve Prince's assets and legacy. The estate also expressed a willingness to work cooperatively with Apollonia and noted prior efforts to resolve the matter privately, including invitations for her to perform at Paisley Park.

Lawyers representing the estate did not immediately comment on the settlement when contacted on Thursday. The confidential agreement came shortly before a scheduled hearing on the estate's motion to dismiss the case.

In court filings earlier this year, Apollonia stated that Prince would have been dismayed by the conduct of his estate in the dispute. She recalled a meeting in February 2016, two months before Prince's passing, during which he encouraged her to continue using the "Apollonia" name for performances. She emphasized that the litigation would not have occurred had Prince still been alive.

Apollonia expressed concern that losing control over the name could damage both her personal identity and livelihood, underscoring the significance of the trademark to her career.

The estate's October motion to dismiss the lawsuit argued that it never threatened to sue Apollonia and maintained that any ownership disputes over the trademark should be settled through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rather than through the courts.

The settlement brings a close to a high-profile legal battle between two parties closely linked through one of the most memorable collaborations in music and film history, allowing Apollonia to continue honoring the name bestowed upon her by Prince during their work on Purple Rain.