In November, the Palace prepared a press release that Princess Märtha Louise (50) will stop representing the royal house, and only stand up on special occasions.
The press release also stated that “The princess and her fiance Durek Verrett will clarify the distinction between their own activities and the Royal Household. This means, among other things, that they must not use the princess title in social media, in media productions or in connection with other commercial activity”.
According to the King’s wish, Märtha Louise would nevertheless retain the title of princess, as well as that she would continue as chairman of Princess Märtha Louise’s memorial fund.
Has signed a decisive document
SIGNED: Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett have signed a document to be able to get an application for the trademark “Princess and the Shaman” approved. Photo: Facsimile/USPTO.gov
Good evening Norway has been granted access to documents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which shows that Märtha Louise and her fiance, Durek Verrett (48), as late as 22 December signed the papers that were missing for the US Patent Office to be able to approve the application.
RE-DISCUSSED: Märtha Louise’s princess title has been the subject of great debate in connection with fiance Durek Verrett’s commercial activities and controversial statements. Photo: Carina Johansen
“To whom it May concern. I, Durek Verrett and I, Martha Louise, authorize the use and registration of our names “The Princess and the Shaman” as a trademark at the USPTO”, says the document signed Verrett and Märtha Louise.
The document was signed by Durek Verrett on 21 December, and by Märtha Louise the following day. This several months after Märtha Louise announced that the application would be withdrawn.
Good evening Norway tried to get a comment from Durek Verrett and his management on Wednesday, without success.
We have also been in contact with the Castle and Märtha Louise’s management. See what they answer, further down in the case.
“Of course it will be withdrawn”
It was Good Evening Norway that in September was able to reveal that Durek Verrett’s production company, Ohana Productions LLC, had submitted an application to the US Patent and Trademark Office, in which the exclusive right to use the trademark “Princess and the Shaman” was applied for.
At the time, Durek Verrett and his management did not want to answer questions about the application.
Märtha’s manager, Carina Scheele Carlsen, wrote the following in an SMS to Good Evening Norway:
– It is no longer appropriate for the Princess to use this title.
When asked whether it was Märtha’s comment that this application was then ready for consideration, she replied as follows:
– It is natural that it is withdrawn since it is no longer applicable.
Communications Manager Guri Varpe at the Royal Court then told Good Evening Norway that the Palace supported that decision.
– It is good that the Princess herself has clarified that it is not appropriate to use this trademark.
When the application was taken up for consideration in the USPTO later this autumn, after being in the queue system, Good Evening Norway again contacted Verrett and Märtha Louise’s manager for a comment. This time no one would answer our questions.
This is how she explains the matter
Regarding the signed document that was submitted to the USPTO just before Christmas, communications manager Varpe at the Palace responds as follows:
– We refer to Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett for questions related to their business.
Märtha’s manager, Carina Scheele Carlsen, writes the following in a text message on Wednesday evening:
– The answer is, as before, that they secure the trademark to ensure that no one else abuses it. Not to use it yourself.
Scheele Carlsen says this answer must have been communicated by Verrett’s management at an earlier time.
However, when Good Evening Norway contacted the management on several occasions in connection with the matter in the autumn, we received no response to our inquiries.
