Jay-Z, Beyonce file to trademark daughter Blue Ivy's name

Never let it be said that Beyonce and Jay-Z weren't thinking ahead: the megastar couple have taken steps to ensure that their daughter Blue Ivy is protected by protecting her name, moving to trademark it by filing paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office (USPTO).

Blue Ivy Carter was born on the seventh of January, and the Carter family (Jay-Z's real name is Shawn Corey Carter) filed the paperwork on Jan. 26th, meaning that their daughter wasn't even three weeks old before the thought occurred to the family that the name might prove lucrative in the future.

The application was done by BGK Trademark Holdings, which is Beyonce's own company. It is still pending but experts said it is a done deal, because parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of their minor children, according to legal experts.

It appears the USPTO is on the ball. Two others tried to trademark names related to Blue Ivy, only to see their applications denied. Reportedly, fashion designer Joseph Mbeh submitted an application to trademark “Blue Ivy Carter NYC” on Jan. 11, just four days after her birth. Another application was filed on Jan. 20 for “Blue Ivy Carter Glory IV," which was intended to be used on a line of fragrances. The USPTO denied those filings, saying the name belonged to a “very famous infant ” and that consumers might falsely assume that the products were endorsed by her celebrity parents.

After the filing denial, Mbeh issued a mea cupla. He said that although he had planned children’s dresses, skirts, and underwear using the name, he had actually planned to pitch the idea to Jay-Z and Beyonce. He never, he said, intended to infringe on any of their ahem, possible revenue.

That said, there may be some issues. According to the reports, there is a boutique in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin which goes by the name "Blue Ivy." It's a clothing store, and filed for the trademark on Jan. 19, 2011 (before Beyonce was even pregnant). The boutique received trademark approval on Aug. 23. The store owners already, therefore, have the right to use that name on their store, Web site and related items in perpetuity. Or, if they desire, they can sell the trademark if to someone else.

Perhaps, one might wonder, they could even sell it to some superstar couple that might decide to make an offer.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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