Beyoncé is being accused of fraud by the woman she has battling for years over Blue Ivy.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the wedding planner, Veronica Morales, is now making the accusation that Bey “committed fraud in signing and submitting” to the United States Patent and Trademark Office “a sworn declaration that she had “a bona fide intention” to use the Blue Ivy Carter trademark in business.
Beyoncé and Morales have been locked in a nasty dispute over the trademark for the name “Blue Ivy”. Bey has been trying to get the trademark to her daughter’s name, but Morales claims she had been using years. They are scheduled to head to trial in the case.
In newly filed documents, Morales is back arguing her case for why Beyoncé should not be granted the “Blue Ivy” trademark. She accuses Bey of refusing to turn over key documents or show evidence on how she planned to use the trademark. She also claims Beyoncé has not answered any interrogatories, and “never produced any documents, tangible things, or other factual evidence in response to requests for production.”
Morales pointed out that Jay-Z even spoke to Vanity Fair admitting they had no intention of using the Blue Ivy mark to sell products but wanted to prevent others from profiting.
Morales believes Beyoncé never planned to use the trademark in business but rather wanted to stop others from using the mark. She writes, “When considered together, the admission to Vanity Fair and the refusal to respond to any discovery responses is sufficient evidence to conclude that the Applicant’s intent all along is exactly what Jay Z said: to use trademark applications to prevent others from using name of their daughter. This is fraud on the USPTO.”
The Blast
In 2017, Beyoncé filed to lock down the rights to the trademark "Blue Ivy Carter" to make sure she had the exclusive use of her daughter’s name.
Soon after, Veronica Morales, the owner of a wedding planning company named Blue Ivy, filed to oppose the singer's application, demanding the pop star not allowed to trademark the name.
Morales’ company had been around three years before Beyoncé’s daughter was born. She pointed out in her opposition that Jay-Z even spoke to Vanity Fair admitting they had no intention of using the Blue Ivy mark to sell products but wanted to prevent others from profiting.
The battle has been going on for nearly two years and turned particularly nasty last year with Beyoncé accusing Morales of offering to sell her company for $10 million to the singer. Morales denied the allegations.