Taylor Swift has moved to tighten control over her identity, filing three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April 24 in a bid to guard against misuse in the AI era.
According to E! Entertainment, the applications were lodged through her company TAS Rights Management and cover both her voice and visual likeness, underscoring how artists are responding to rising risks from artificial intelligence and digital replication.
Two of the filings target phrases synonymous with Swift’s brand, “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor.”
The short introductions, widely recognised by fans, are now being formally protected to prevent unauthorised commercial use, particularly as AI-generated audio becomes more sophisticated.
The third filing focuses on a visual image from her blockbuster The Eras Tour.
Previously used to promote her concert film on Disney+, the image captures Swift mid-performance, holding a pink guitar and dressed in a multi-coloured iridescent bodysuit with silver boots.
The application provides a detailed description of the stage setup, including a pink platform, a multi-coloured microphone and purple lighting.
The filings come amid growing concern over AI-driven identity misuse. Swift has previously been targeted by fabricated content, including false endorsements and explicit imagery circulated without consent. One high-profile case involved a fake political endorsement linked to Donald Trump during the 2024 election cycle.
“Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site,” she wrote. “It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation.”
She added that transparency remains the most effective counter to such manipulation.
Swift’s move mirrors similar action by Matthew McConaughey, who has also filed trademarks covering his likeness and voice, including his iconic “Alright, Alright, Alright” line from *Dazed and Confused*.
“Just keep livin’, right? I mean, what are we gonna do?” he said in one of the protected recordings, stressing the need for consent and control over personal identity in the digital space.