Taylor Swift files trademark applications to protect her voice and image from AI

Key Points:

• Taylor Swift has filed new trademark applications for two voice clips and one image to protect herself against threats posed by artificial intelligence, marking a novel use of trademark law in the entertainment industry.
• The voice clips feature Swift promoting her album "The Life of a Showgirl," while the image depicts her iconic stage look from the Eras tour, aiming to prevent unauthorized AI-generated content mimicking her likeness or voice.
• Trademark attorney Josh Gerben notes that registering a celebrity’s spoken voice is a relatively untested legal strategy that could help fill gaps left by traditional copyright laws against AI-generated imitations.
• Similar filings have been made by actor Matthew McConaughey, indicating a broader trend among celebrities to use trademark law to safeguard their voices and images in the AI era.
• Swift’s extensive trademark portfolio, with over 300 applications in the U.S., reflects a strategic effort to reinforce her brand amid evolving challenges from AI technologies.