Taylor Swift filed two trademark applications last week through TAS Rights Management, seeking protection for the phrases 'Hey, it's Taylor Swift' and 'Hey, it's Taylor.' The filings include audio clips of Swift speaking both phrases, tied to a promotion for her latest album.
The move is a direct response to years of AI voice cloning and deepfake controversies involving Swift, but trademark law was not built for this problem. Legal experts say the applications face a difficult path, and the outcome will test whether existing IP frameworks can cover a person's spoken voice signature at all.
The full story is worth reading for its breakdown of exactly where trademark law breaks down against AI imitation, and what a failed bid here would mean for every other public figure trying to use the same playbook.
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