Taylor Swiftis taking new steps to protect her voice and image in the age of artificial intelligence.
The pop superstar's company, TAS Rights Management, filed multiple new trademark applications on April 24, including filings tied to the way Swift introduces herself and a signature concert image associated with theEras Tour.
One filing seeks protection for the spoken phrase"Hey, it's Taylor,"a move that could help Swift challenge AI-generated clips or unauthorized uses of her voice online.
"Taylor's trademark filings suggest a broader shift in how celebrities are applying trademark law to fight back against AI," intellectual property and trademark attorney Josh Gerben wrote on his blog. "Taylor Swiftisn't merely trying to trademark a catchphrase — she's seeking federal protection for the sound of her own voice saying it."
More:Donald Trump posts fake Taylor Swift endorsement, Swifties for Trump AI images
As AI-generated songs, videos and manipulated content continue to spread online, artists and actors have increasingly found their voices and likenesses used without permission. Swift herself has already been at the center of the debate.
In January 2024, nonconsensual, seemingly AI-generated explicit images falsely depicting the singer-songwriter spread online, prompting outrage from fans and renewed calls for stronger federal protections against AI abuse. The platform X temporarily blocked searches for Swift's name as it worked to remove the content.
"The Life of a Showgirl"singer was also dragged into AI-generated political content in August 2024. Then-presidential candidateDonald Trumpshared a series of suspected AI-generated images onTruth Socialsuggesting that Swift and her fanbase supported his campaign. This happened despite the singer previously voicing opposition to Trump.
One image showed Swift dressed as Uncle Sam with the words, "Taylor wants you to vote forDonald Trump."
Advertisement
"Musicians and actors have increasingly found their voices and images used in unauthorized videos, songs, and digital content that is created by AI and circulated online,"Gerben wrote.
Swift's team also filed to protect a specificvisual image: Swift holding a pink guitar while wearing a shimmering multicolored bodysuit and silver boots onstage. The image is closely tied to recent performances and promotional materials connected to her record-shattering tour.
"Now, anyone can spin up a version of an artist's voice, have it say anything, attach it to anything, and distribute it at scale," Gerben wrote. "And the scary part? It doesn’t have to be an exact copy to cause damage."
The broader fight over AI protections is also playing out in Washington.
In December, Trump signed anexecutive orderaimed at limiting states from creating and enforcing their own AI laws, a move that could affect protections such asTennessee's ELVIS Actfor artists' voices and likenesses.
By filing trademarks around both her voice and a recognizable concert visuals, Swift appears to be building new legal protections around key parts of her brand.
Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for thefree, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.
Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West onInstagram,TikTokandX as @BryanWestTV.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Taylor Swift moves to protect voice and image from future AI misuse
Post a Comment