{"id":325784,"date":"2026-04-28T14:07:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T08:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=325784"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:07:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T08:37:46","slug":"taylor-swift-files-trademarks-to-combat-ai-misuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/28\/taylor-swift-files-trademarks-to-combat-ai-misuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Taylor Swift Files Trademarks To Combat AI Misuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Taylor Swift<\/strong> is making a strategic move to guard her brand, filing trademarks that cover her voice and likeness. As AI tools proceed to blur the road between real and fabricated content, her latest move adds a layer of protection against deepfakes that misrepresent her identity or damage her status.<\/p>\n<p>Swift\u2019s move comes after <strong>Matthew McConaughey<\/strong> filed trademark applications for his voice, likeness, and famous catchphrase, signaling a growing trend of high-profile figures taking steps to guard themselves against unauthorized AI use.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On April 24, Taylor Swift\u2019s company, TAS Rights Management, LLC, filed three trademark applications to guard her voice and image, as shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gerbenlaw.com\/blog\/taylor-swift-moves-to-trademark-her-voice-and-image-as-ai-threats-grow\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">trademark attorney Josh Gerben<\/a> on his blog post dated April 27.<\/p>\n<p>Gerben, who isn&#8217;t related to the pop star, noted that this move is specifically intended to guard against artificial intelligence amid growing concerns about unauthorized AI-generated content spreading online. Swift has filed three applications: two for her voice and one for her image.<\/p>\n<p>The primary filing has the singer saying, \u201cHey, it\u2019s Taylor Swift,\u201d while the second says, \u201cHey, it\u2019s Taylor.\u201d The third trademark filing features a photo taken at one among Swift\u2019s performances throughout the \u201cEras Tour.\u201d In it, the singer stands in front of a microphone, holding a pink guitar, wearing a sparkling bodysuit and knee-high boots.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-trademarks-add-a-layer-of-protection\">The Trademarks Add A Layer Of Protection<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/taylor-swift-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Swift at VMA Awards 2023\" class=\"wp-image-732069\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tammie Arroyo\/AFF-USA.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As Gerben noted, high-profile individuals are already protected by \u201cRight of Publicity\u201d laws, but filing these trademarks offers \u201can extra layer of protection.\u201d Singers also depend on copyright law to forestall unauthorized use of their music. Nonetheless, that doesn&#8217;t necessarily extend to AI-generated content, and the trademarks may help address that loophole.<\/p>\n<p>Although the trademarks specify a particular phrase and image, Gerben notes that Swift could challenge deepfake content that&#8217;s \u201cconfusingly similar\u201d to her voice and image. \u201cTheoretically, if a lawsuit were to be filed over an AI using Swift\u2019s voice, she could claim that any use of her voice that seems like the registered trademark violates her trademark rights,\u201d he wrote, adding that the identical goes for Swift\u2019s image trademark.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-taylor-swift-follows-matthew-mcconaughey-s-lead\">Taylor Swift Follows Matthew McConaughey\u2019s Lead<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"970\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-768x970.jpg\" alt=\"Matthew McConaughey at HBO 'True Detective' Season 3 Premiere\" class=\"wp-image-710725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-1621x2048.jpg 1621w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-1216x1536.jpg 1216w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-811x1024.jpg 811w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-768x970.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/matthew-McConaughey-2-scaled.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In 2025, eight of Matthew McConaughey\u2019s trademark applications were approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including his voice, image, and even his famous catchphrase, \u201cAlright, alright, alright,\u201d as reported by <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/tech\/ai\/matthew-mcconaughey-trademarks-himself-to-fight-ai-misuse-8ffe76a9\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a><\/em>. \u201cMy team and I would like to know that when my voice or likeness is ever used, it\u2019s because I approved and signed off on it,\u201d McConaughey explained, adding that he wants a clearer boundary for \u201cownership and consent\u201d relating to AI technology.<\/p>\n<p>Filing trademarks to fight against AI, comparable to what McCounaughey and Swift did, is latest and hasn\u2019t been tested in court. Because the actor\u2019s attorney said, \u201cI don\u2019t know what a court will say in the long run. But now we have to not less than test this.\u201d A federal court would want an actual case to check the validity of the legal arguments behind the filings.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-taylor-swift-became-a-target-of-deepfakes\">Taylor Swift Became A Goal Of Deepfakes<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/taylor-swift-1-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Swift at 2024 MTV Video Music Awards\" class=\"wp-image-693403\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Collin\/Image Press Agency\/MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In January 2024, Swift made headlines as sexually explicit deepfake images of her made rounds and went viral on social media platforms. The platforms and anti-abuse groups fought to have the photographs removed, but attributable to Swift\u2019s immense popularity, they spread rapidly and were viewed by tens of millions, per <em><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/taylor-swift-ai-images-protecttaylorswift-nonconsensual-d5eb3f98084bcbb670a185f7aeec78b1\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">AP News<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The Swifties rallied behind the singer, using the hashtag #ProtectTaylorSwift and posting legitimate, positive photos to drown out the fake ones. Reality Defender, an AI-generated media detection platform, monitored the activity and discovered that about two dozen fake images were spread. \u201cUnfortunately, they spread to tens of millions and tens of millions of users by the point that a few of them were taken down,\u201d Reality Defender\u2019s head of growth stated.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-pop-star-addressed-ai-concerns\">The Pop Star Addressed AI Concerns<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1131\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-768x1131.jpg\" alt=\"Taylor Swift at the 2025 Grammy Awards - Arrivals\" class=\"wp-image-667986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-scaled.jpg 1738w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-1391x2048.jpg 1391w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-1043x1536.jpg 1043w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-768x1131.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-695x1024.jpg 695w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-204x300.jpg 204w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Taylor-Swift-at-the-2025-Grammy-Awards-scaled.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, an AI-generated image of Swift as Uncle Sam circulated on social media, with the text \u201cTaylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.\u201d Trump reposted the image on his Truth Social account, captioning it, \u201cI accept!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Swift was alerted to the AI image and took to Instagram to deal with the fake post, saying it brought up her fears about artificial intelligence and the way it could possibly be used to spread misinformation, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/tech-news\/ai-taylor-swift-endorsement-trump-shared-was-originally-biden-meme-rcna170945\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">NBC News<\/a>. \u201cIt brought me to the conclusion that I must be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The best technique to combat misinformation is the reality,\u201d she said. Swift then urged her followers to vote and endorsed Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taylor Swift is making a strategic move to guard her brand, filing trademarks that cover her voice and likeness. As AI tools proceed to blur the road between real and fabricated content, her latest move adds a layer of protection against deepfakes that misrepresent her identity or damage her status. Swift\u2019s move comes after Matthew [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":325785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[337],"tags":[6267,1210,42806,989,909,45208],"class_list":["post-325784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-combat","tag-files","tag-misuse","tag-swift","tag-taylor","tag-trademarks"],"aioseo_notices":[{"message":"The permalink for this post just changed! 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