Can you really trademark a baby’s name? Absolutely. Why would you want to? The answer is more applicable to your business than you may realise.
In late January, Beyonce and Jay-Z set off a firestorm when they applied to register their newborn daughter’s name as a trademark. The couple applied to register the trademark BLUE IVY CARTER in connection with a host of goods and services, everything from clothing to entertainment services.
Some have criticized the application as a shrewd business move, potentially setting forth plans to monetize the name of the famous couple’s child. Perhaps. However, if you understand a little bit more about the way our trademark system works here in the United States their efforts were, more likely than not, to make sure that others do not wrongfully capitalize off their child’s persona and not about actually capitalizing on the same for themselves.
First and foremost, understand that Beyonce’s holding company, BGK Trademark Holdings, was not the first to file an application to register the child’s name as a trademark. On January 11, 2012, just a few days after the child’s birth, a New Jersey individual filed to register the trademark BLUE IVY CARTER NYC in connection with children’s clothing. Not to be outdone, on January 20, 2012 a Long Island company applied to register the trademark BLUE IVY CARTER GLORY IV in connection with fragrances and other similar goods. Why are they always from New York or New Jersey?
…to read this article in full, visit leading US small business resource, Inc.
