Say My Name, Say My Name...
Because The Real Power Move Isn’t The Headline—It’s The Paperwork That Protects Your Brilliance. | I Am What an Intellectual Property Attorney Looks Like.
Hey Fam,
September 4th has come and gone. Another Beyoncé birthday in the books.
For most of the world, that meant playlists on repeat, Instagram carousels, and hashtags celebrating the Virgo Queen. But while the internet was busy streaming Cuff It into oblivion, Beyoncé was marking her birthday with something the rest of us could learn from: ownership.
Because Beyoncé isn’t just a singer.
She isn’t just a performer.
She isn’t even “just” an icon.
She’s an owner.
Through BGK Trademark Holdings, she has turned her catalog, her tours, her fragrances, and even her children’s names into trademarked assets.
We’re talking: Beyoncé Heat. Pulse. The Mrs. Carter Show. BeyGOOD. Rumi Carter. Sir Carter. And after more than a decade of back-and-forth at the USPTO, Blue Ivy Carter is finally on its way to full registration.
Beyoncé doesn’t just build moments. She builds movements—and then she protects them.
And that’s the quietest flex of all.
In this Founder’s Letter, We’re going to pull three key lessons from Beyoncé’s blueprint that every founder, creative, and impact-maker can apply right now.
Because the truth is, legacy doesn’t happen by accident—it’s protected on purpose.
Ready?
Let’s dive right in.
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But First, Church Announcements:
Mark your calendars fam—our first Substack Live Workshop is coming up!
Don’t Be Kendrick, Be Beyoncé: Securing Ownership Before the Spotlight
📅 Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM PST
📍 Location: Substack Live
Drawing upon lessons from Beyoncé’s decades’ long intellectual property portfolio building strategy, we’re going to talk about how you too can protect your brilliance as you build your impact.
This workshop is for founders and creators who are building something powerful—and want to protect it as the world catches on.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
Identify IP-worthy assets in your business before they go viral (brand names, course titles, catchphrases, merch lines).
Understand the USPTO timing and “first-file” rules that make or break your rights.
See how IP adds real-world value—whether you’re raising funds, negotiating partnerships, or licensing your work.
Build an early-stage IP roadmap (audits, registrations, aligning protection with milestones).
Use IP as leverage—not just defense—to control your narrative and secure your legacy.
If you’ve ever wondered how Beyoncé turned her trademarks into power moves, this is the room you want to be in.
Because protecting your brilliance isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Now, back to Queen Bey… :)
Think about it: every headline about Beyoncé is dazzling.
Grammy wins. Coachella. Ivy Park x Adidas. Netflix specials.
But underneath all the glitter is a paper trail of strategy.
Because Beyoncé knows the truth: the applause is temporary. The paperwork is permanent.
That’s the playbook every founder and creative should be running. And here are three lessons from Beyoncé’s empire that matter for your own.
Beyoncé doesn’t trademark randomly. She trademarks intentionally.
Her perfumes? Protected.
Her tours? Protected.
Even her children’s names? Protected.
Because she knows what many of us forget: today’s ideas can become tomorrow’s assets.
That throwaway catchphrase you put on Instagram? Someone else could put it on a hoodie.
That podcast title you love? Another creator could register it tomorrow.
Beyoncé reminds us that legacy starts in the little things.
You don’t wait until your idea “makes it” to protect it. You protect it so it can make it.
Let’s be real: we don’t line up to celebrate trademark filings. They don’t go viral on TikTok. They don’t trend on Twitter.
But they’re the backbone of every power move Beyoncé makes.
Because while the world talks about Ivy Park’s fashion campaigns, Beyoncé is making sure the Ivy Park name is protected, licensed, and monetized.
While the world gushes over her BeyGOOD philanthropy, she ensures it’s not just a hashtag—it’s a registered mark.
Here’s the founder’s takeaway: it’s not the spotlight that makes your brand untouchable. It’s the paperwork.
The Blue Ivy Carter trademark fight lasted over ten years. Ten years of oppositions, denials, appeals, and persistence.
Most people would’ve quit. Beyoncé didn’t.
Why? Because she understands something essential: legacy doesn’t happen by accident. It happens on purpose.
And that purpose looks like persistence, paperwork, and protecting your vision—even when it takes longer than you think it should.
For founders, that means registering now, not later. Because by the time someone “big” copies your idea, it’s too late to wish you had.
Beyoncé shows us that legacy isn’t about charts, tours, or headlines. It’s about building something that outlasts all of them.
Her empire rests on three pillars:
Treating every idea as a potential seed of legacy.
Making paperwork the quietest flex.
Protecting her legacy on purpose—not by accident.
That’s the playbook. And it’s one you can start running now.
The spotlight comes and goes, but protection keeps you center stage.
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I want to hear your take.
Need Help Protecting Your Creativity?
If you are unsure—or if you know you need to take action—reach out to us.
We have helped countless founders and creatives safeguard their intellectual property, and we would love to do the same for you.
If you need further guidance, reach out to me and my team at Firm for the Culture.
We’re here to help you navigate the copyright, trademark, and thought leadership journey.
Can’t wait to help you protect your dynamic impact.
And #ThatsAWrap
The Doors of the Church Firm Are Open
Thanks for reading
See you next time.
Love this! Excited to protect my IP
'Quiet flex': love that.
...maybe one for you to trademark, Ruky (winks) :-)