According to a story today in in the Washington Post, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have filed a trademark application on their baby’s name Blue Ivy Carter, On January 26th.
The application was filed by TBGK Trademark Holdings, Beyoncé’s company to cover all things fashion as well as baby carriages, baby cosmetics, and diaper bags.
The article goes on to say that two other trademark applications filed after the babies birth have already been turned down:
“Fashion designer Joseph Mbeh, who submitted an application to trademark “Blue Ivy Carter NYC” on Jan. 11 — just four days after the baby was born. Another applicant filed on Jan. 20 for “Blue Ivy Carter Glory IV” to use on a line of fragrances. The trademark office has already denied both filings, saying the name belonged to a “very famous infant ” and consumers would falsely assume that the products were approved by the celebrity parents”
Of course since we are a publication concentrated on domain names, we checked it out and the domain name BlueIvy.com was registered way back in 1999 and goes to a placeholder for the registrar.
The domain name BlueIvyCarter.com on the other hand was registered on January 8th, 2012.
The baby was born on Saturday night January 7th and announced to the world on January 8th along with the name of the baby.
Were some of the most successful people in the entertainment world with their own highly successful businesses on top of the domain game and smart enough to register the .com domain name of their baby?
Look like they were not.
The domain name is under privacy at Godaddy.com, but if you check DomainTools.com to see the original registration it looks like the parents missed on registering the .com version of their baby’s name that they just trademarked.
The domain name BlueIvyCarter.com is going to a Godaddy default registrar PPC page.
BlueIvyCarter.net was also registered on January 8th and is going to a “tribute page” which indicates the domain is for sale.
The same person that registered the .net also registered the .org but that domain is going to the Godaddy default PPC page.
BlueIvyCarter.me didn’t get registered until January 13th, also not owned by the parents.
As for BlueIvyCarter.xxx that domain was registered on January 11th to an address in NY.
Hum
That domain does not resolve.
The bottom line this is a good lesson for all celebrities actually all parents, maybe you should secure the matching .com domain name of your baby before announcing it to the world, especially if your planning on trademarking the name.
So what does this mean? Are you saying people that registered the said domains will not be liable under trademark law?
Domain
That is not my call
The domains were registered before the TM were applied for
I guess what I am saying is that Jay-Z and Beyonce knew what they named or where going to name there kid and apparently had BIG PLANS for the name
They are VERY smart successful people and blew registering the domain names.
How it will all turn out, that’s above my pay grade
Even though the domain was registered before the TM, the baby’s parents will be able to take the name when they want. The bad faith factor is blatant here. Anyway, I second Mike’s advice: always secure your domain before someone else does.
@Joe
With great respect, check your legal facts. It can not be taken away unless you are selling that person or the products they wish to sell.
@Domain game
Yes, generally speaking it goes that way, but in cases like this, I think it’s up to the panelist(s).
This was a great read. The smart money is on the nickname of this baby, after the late great Notorious BIG, she has been dubbed Notorious BIC. But you’re right, as soon as they though of the baby’s name, why wasn’t Mr. Sean Carter on GoDaddy registering the hell out of her name? BC he’s too busy and doesn’t understand domains probably? Yeah, probably, but he can easily take back BlueIvyCarter.com I would assume….
Anyway, Wonder who registered NotoriousBIC.com? ; ) That could be the winning name.
I also say ivyblue-carter.com on there…..that brings up a question, since it has the name ivyblue-carter…(ivy and blue) however you put it, dont the trademark will be infringed by the ivyblue also?