Taylor Swift Files Trademarks to Protect Voice and Image from AI Deepfakes

Taylor Swift has taken a significant legal step in response to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence by filing new trademark applications designed to protect both her voice and her image from unauthorized digital replication. The filings, submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, include two “sound marks” featuring recorded audio clips of Swift speaking and a trademark for a stage photograph from her Eras Tour. According to trademark attorney Josh Gerben, these filings represent an emerging strategy in the entertainment industry as artists attempt to address gaps in existing copyright law created by AI-generated content.

The audio trademarks include two promotional recordings tied to Swift’s recent album The Life of a Showgirl. In one clip, she says, “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift, and you can listen to my new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ on demand on Amazon Music Unlimited.” In another, she speaks in a lower tone: “Hey, it’s Taylor. My brand new album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is out on Oct. 3 and you can click to presave it so you can listen to it on Spotify.” These types of filings, known as sound marks, are traditionally used for recognizable audio branding such as corporate chimes or signature sounds, but applying them to a celebrity voice is a relatively new and largely untested legal approach.

Alongside the audio filings, Swift also seeks protection for a photograph showing her performing on stage in a sequinned outfit while holding a pink guitar—an iconic image from her Eras Tour. The intent, legal experts suggest, is to create a stronger basis for action against AI-generated impersonations, even when those impersonations are not exact copies. Instead, they could be challenged if they are deemed “confusingly similar” to the registered marks, a key standard in trademark law.

This move comes amid increasing concerns about artificial intelligence tools that can generate highly realistic deepfakes of celebrities. Swift herself has been a frequent target of such misuse, including fake promotional videos, sexually explicit AI-generated images, and even manipulated content falsely linking her to political endorsements. Similar incidents have affected other public figures, with actors and musicians reporting unauthorized use of their voices and likenesses in advertisements and online content.

Legal experts argue that traditional copyright law, which protects original recordings and creative works, is not fully equipped to address these new AI capabilities. Modern generative AI systems can create entirely new audio or visual content that mimics a person’s voice or appearance without directly copying existing material. This creates what Gerben describes as a legal “gap” that trademarks may help fill, potentially allowing celebrities to pursue claims even when AI-generated content is technically original but still closely resembles their identity.

Swift is not the first high-profile figure to explore this approach. Actor Matthew McConaughey previously filed similar trademark applications covering his voice and image, signaling growing interest among celebrities in using intellectual property law to protect their digital identities. Other public figures, including Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, and Bryan Cranston, have also raised concerns about AI systems replicating their likenesses without permission. In some cases, AI companies have already faced backlash and been forced to remove or adjust models that produced realistic voice or image clones.

Swift has filed more than 300 trademarks over her career, primarily focused on protecting her name, branding, and merchandise. However, this appears to be her first attempt at securing sound mark protection for her voice itself. Experts suggest that if successful, these filings could set an important precedent for how celebrity identity is protected in an era where AI-generated impersonations are becoming increasingly common and difficult to distinguish from reality.

Works Cited

“Taylor Swift files to trademark her voice and image amid concern over AI misuse.” BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm1mygrmv2o.

“Taylor Swift files trademarks for voice and image amid concern over AI misuse.” CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/business/taylor-swift-trademark-ai-intl.

“Taylor Swift files trademarks to protect her voice and likeness from AI deepfakes.” NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/taylor-swift-files-trademark-voice-likeness-protection-ai-deepfakes-rcna342367.

“Image of Taylor Swift related AI deepfake coverage.” BD Pratidin, 28 Apr. 2026, https://encdn.bd-pratidin.com/public/news_images/2026/04/28/1777367499-95d2eecf0b37ebea12adc51873c0dd07.jpg.

“Image related to Taylor Swift AI trademark and media coverage.” The Guardian, https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9a9b52efa28463fa457b607d2b47838dfda9aea4/0_0_5000_3000/master/5000.jpg.