Taylor Swift's company has filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for her image and specific spoken phrases. The filings, made on April 24, come amid rising concerns over artificial intelligence misuse in entertainment. They include a photo from her Eras Tour and sound marks for 'Hey, it’s Taylor Swift' and 'Hey, it’s Taylor.'
TAS Rights Management, the entity handling Taylor Swift's rights, submitted the applications on Friday, April 24. One covers an image of Swift performing on her Eras Tour stage. The other two are sound trademarks for the phrases “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor,” as first noted by intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben. A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The moves follow similar actions by actor Matthew McConaughey, whose attorneys filed eight trademarks in recent months. Those protect his Texan drawl and image, including the line “alright, alright, alright!” from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused. Celebrities in many states benefit from “Right of Publicity” laws against unauthorized use of their name or likeness. Gerben highlighted that trademarks offer extra protection, particularly as legal frameworks for AI-generated content remain underdeveloped. The NO FAKES Act, aimed at safeguarding voices and likenesses from AI exploitation, was introduced years ago but lingers in congressional committee. Swift has faced AI-related issues before. In early 2024, X temporarily blocked searches for her name after AI-generated explicit images spread. That year, Donald Trump posted AI images implying her support for his campaign, prompting Swift to endorse Kamala Harris on Instagram. “It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” she wrote.
