Taylor Swift Files to Trademark Voice and Likeness to Protect Against AI Misuse Taylor Swift has taken a significant legal step to safeguard her identity in the era of artificial intelligence, following similar actions by actor Matthew McConaughey. On April 24, Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Two of the applications focus on sound trademarks, covering her voice with the phrases “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor.” The third application pertains to her visual likeness, including distinctive elements like her commonly worn jumpsuit and signature pose. The filings were identified by intellectual-property attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP, who noted that Swift’s strategy reflects growing concerns among entertainment industry professionals about AI’s potential to exploit artists’ voices and likenesses without consent. Gerben explained that while trademarks traditionally do not protect an individual’s general likeness or voice, the approach taken by McConaughey’s legal team aims to expand legal remedies against AI-generated content that misappropriates someone’s image or sound. Swift’s team has faced multiple instances of her likeness being used without permission, including AI-generated fake images circulated online and unauthorized content by Meta’s AI chatbots. Additionally, during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump shared AI-generated images of Swift that falsely implied she had endorsed him. These incidents highlight the risks of AI-driven impersonation and the need for stronger legal protections.#taylor_swift #matthew_mcconaughey #tas_rights_management #josh_gerben #us_patent_trademark_office
