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Taylor Swift has filed three trademark applications to protect her voice and a specific image from unauthorized use. The move comes amid a rise in AI-generated fakes using her likeness, including during the 2024 election. Trademark protection could provide a nationwide legal tool against such misuse.
Facts First
- Taylor Swift's company filed three trademark applications covering her voice and a specific photograph.
- The voice trademarks cover the phrases 'Hey, it’s Taylor Swift' and 'Hey, it’s Taylor'.
- The visual trademark covers a specific photograph of Swift holding a pink guitar on a pink stage.
- Her likeness has been used in AI-generated fakes, including by Meta's chatbots and in political endorsements.
- Trademark infringement lawsuits can be filed in federal court and apply nationwide.
What Happened
On Friday, April 24, Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Two of the applications are for sound trademarks covering her voice saying 'Hey, it’s Taylor Swift' and 'Hey, it’s Taylor'. The third is a visual trademark for a specific photograph of Swift holding a pink guitar, wearing a multi-colored bodysuit, and standing on a pink stage. Intellectual-property attorney Josh Gerben identified the filings, and attorney Rebecca Liebowitz is listed on the applications.
Why this Matters to You
If you create or share content online, this development highlights the growing legal tools celebrities are using to control their digital personas. For the general public, it may lead to fewer encounters with convincing but unauthorized AI-generated fakes of public figures in advertising, social media, or political contexts. For artists and influencers, it sets a precedent that securing trademark rights for distinctive elements of their identity could become a standard part of managing their brand.
What's Next
The trademark applications will undergo an examination process by the USPTO. If approved, Swift could use these trademarks to pursue legal action against unauthorized commercial uses nationwide, providing a potentially more straightforward federal path than existing state right-of-publicity laws. This move may encourage other public figures to seek similar trademark protections for their distinctive voices or images, especially as AI generation tools become more widespread.