Taylor Swift files US trademarks for voice and likeness

Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on April 24, 2026, seeking protections tied to Swift’s voice and visual likeness. The filings are described as an attempt to build clearer legal tools to challenge unauthorized imitation, with a focus on material generated through artificial intelligence.

According to the source material, the applications aim to secure rights over recognizable identifiers that could be replicated and distributed widely through AI systems. Officials and intellectual property experts cited in the source material described the move as part of a broader shift among public figures toward using trademark law to respond to AI-related misuse of identity.

Three applications: two sound marks and one stage image

Two of the filings seek sound-mark protection for short spoken phrases: “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor.” The third application covers a visual mark depicting Swift performing on stage with a pink guitar and an iridescent bodysuit.

The source material frames the package as a way to anchor disputes to specific audio and visual elements associated with Swift. It says these kinds of identifiers can be reproduced at scale through AI tools, increasing the risk of unauthorized use.

How trademark claims could complement publicity rights

The source material notes that right-of-publicity protections exist at the state level in the United States. It also says trademark claims can provide nationwide reach through federal infringement actions.

In practical terms, the filings could support arguments that certain AI outputs create consumer confusion or improperly trade on protected identifiers, according to the source material. It adds that this federal pathway could be used alongside state-based publicity claims.

Context: prior AI-related impersonation incidents

The applications come after earlier AI-related impersonation incidents involving Swift that are cited in the source material. Those incidents include AI-generated fakes linked to Meta’s AI chatbots, pornographic images, and politically motivated endorsements.

Intellectual property experts cited in the source material said trademark protection could strengthen legal action against AI-generated replicas. The source material says that if an AI system used Swift’s voice or produced a visual representation resembling the trademarked stage image, it could face trademark infringement claims in addition to any applicable right-of-publicity arguments.

Industry-wide concerns and an open question at the USPTO

More broadly, the source material points to growing concern across the entertainment industry over who controls, monetizes, and safeguards an artist’s identity as AI tools make imitation easier to create and distribute.

A key uncertainty is whether the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office will grant the sound and visual marks as filed. The source material also highlights uncertainty over how any granted trademarks may be used in future disputes alongside state publicity laws.