Taylor Swift Files Trademark for Voice and Likeness Amid AI Concerns

Swift later shared her concerns over the use of AI in an Instagram message ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

"Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site," she wrote in her post. "It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. 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 with the truth."

But Swift isn’t the first celebrity to take action against the growing misuse of AI. In fact, Matthew McConaughey filed eight trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this year to protect his likeness.

The trademarks included the actor smiling and talking while saying his signature phrase, “Alright, Alright, Alright,” made famous by his character in 1993’s Dazed and Confused, as well audio of him saying “Just keep livin’, right? I mean, what are we gonna do?”

And the Dallas Buyers Club star was clear about his intentions at the time, telling The Wall Street Journal in January, “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. We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.” 

Josh Gerben, an intellectual-property attorney of Gerben IP, echoed those sentiments while discussing Swift’s filing and its potential impact, though he is not affiliated with her in any way.

“Swift’s trademark filings suggest a broader shift in how celebrities are applying trademark law to fight back against AI,” Gerben wrote in an April 27 blog post. “Historically, artists haven’t used trademark law this way. Under US law, songs are protected by copyright. And someone’s likeness or image is protected by ‘Right of Publicity’ laws. But AI has broken that model.”

“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,” he continued. “And the scary part? It doesn’t have to be an exact copy to cause damage.”

“That’s where trademarks come in,” Gerben added. “Trademark law doesn’t just stop identical uses (like copyright law): it stops anything that is confusingly similar to the registered trademark. That’s a much broader right and more powerful tool in an AI world.”