Taylor Swift is making a strategic move to protect her brand, filing trademarks that cover her voice and likeness. As AI tools continue to blur the line between real and fabricated content, her latest move adds a layer of protection against deepfakes that misrepresent her identity or damage her reputation.
Swift’s move comes after Matthew McConaughey filed trademark applications for his voice, likeness, and famous catchphrase, signaling a growing trend of high-profile figures taking steps to protect themselves against unauthorized AI use.
On April 24, Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, LLC, filed three trademark applications to protect her voice and image, as shared by trademark attorney Josh Gerben on his blog post dated April 27.
Gerben, who is not associated with the pop star, noted that this move is specifically intended to protect 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.
The first filing has the singer saying, “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” while the second says, “Hey, it’s Taylor.” The third trademark filing includes a photo taken at one of Swift’s performances during the “Eras Tour.” In it, the singer stands in front of a microphone, holding a pink guitar, wearing a sparkling bodysuit and knee-high boots.
The Trademarks Add A Layer Of Protection
As Gerben noted, high-profile individuals are already protected by “Right of Publicity” laws, but filing these trademarks offers “an additional layer of protection.” Singers also rely on copyright law to prevent unauthorized use of their music. However, that does not necessarily extend to AI-generated content, and the trademarks may help address that loophole.
Although the trademarks specify a specific phrase and image, Gerben notes that Swift could challenge deepfake content that is “confusingly similar” to her voice and image. “Theoretically, if a lawsuit were to be filed over an AI using Swift’s voice, she could claim that any use of her voice that sounds like the registered trademark violates her trademark rights,” he wrote, adding that the same goes for Swift’s image trademark.
Taylor Swift Follows Matthew McConaughey’s Lead
In 2025, eight of Matthew McConaughey’s trademark applications were approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including his voice, image, and even his famous catchphrase, “Alright, alright, alright,” as reported by The Wall Street Journal. “My team and I want to know that when my voice or likeness is ever used, it’s because I approved and signed off on it,” McConaughey explained, adding that he wants a clearer boundary for “ownership and consent” when it comes to AI technology.
Filing trademarks to fight against AI, such as what McCounaughey and Swift did, is new and hasn’t been tested in court. As the actor’s attorney said, “I don’t know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this.” A federal court would need an actual case to test the validity of the legal arguments behind the filings.
Taylor Swift Became A Target Of Deepfakes
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 images removed, but due to Swift’s immense popularity, they spread rapidly and were viewed by millions, per AP News.
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. “Unfortunately, they spread to millions and millions of users by the time that some of them were taken down,” Reality Defender’s head of growth stated.
The Pop Star Addressed AI Concerns
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, an AI-generated image of Swift as Uncle Sam circulated on social media, with the text “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.” Trump reposted the image on his Truth Social account, captioning it, “I accept!”
Swift was alerted to the AI image and took to Instagram to address the fake post, saying it brought up her fears about artificial intelligence and how it can be used to spread misinformation, per NBC News. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is the truth,” she said. Swift then urged her followers to vote and endorsed Kamala Harris.
