Combating AI Deepfake Threats: Taylor Swift Applies for Voice and Likeness Trademarks
Pop superstar Taylor Swift has applied for trademarks on her voice and classic image to protect against the rising tide of AI-generated deepfakes.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 09:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:01 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 15:38 (5h 36m after Collected)
(CNA New York, 27th, Combined External Dispatches) Amid the rapid emergence of AI-generated content, American pop queen Taylor Swift has applied to US intellectual property authorities to register her voice as a trademark. Actor Matthew McConaughey previously took similar steps.
AFP and Reuters reported that Swift submitted two audio recordings to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), each starting with "Hey, I'm Taylor Swift," announcing the release of her latest album "The Life of a Showgirl" last October.
In addition to her voice, on April 24th, Swift also submitted a photo to the USPTO to protect her iconic image of wearing a signature sparkling leotard and holding a pink guitar on stage.
Swift's images and voice have appeared in numerous AI-generated deepfakes, including fraudulent advertisements, fake political endorsements, and explicit images.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who first disclosed the news, said the move is "exactly to protect Swift from AI threats. While existing 'right of publicity' laws provide some protection, trademark registration offers another layer of defense."
He added, "In the past, singers relied on copyright to protect recordings, but AI can now generate mimicry without copying original audio, creating a legal gap that the trademark system might fill."
Earlier, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey made a similar filing to prevent AI models from using his voice without authorization. According to USPTO databases, his filings include multiple video and audio clips.
McConaughey told the Wall Street Journal in January: "We want to draw clear boundaries for ownership in the AI world, making licensing and attribution the industry norm."
As AI models advance, requiring only a snippet of audio to mimic a voice in seconds, more performers are expressing concern. While several US states have passed laws, most target malicious or commercial exploitation. The most comprehensive is Tennessee's 2024 'Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act' (ELVIS Act).
Currently, few performers have taken legal action, one notable case being Scarlett Johansson suing Lisa AI in 2023 for using an unauthorized AI clone for advertising. (Editor: Liu Wen-yu) 1150428
AFP and Reuters reported that Swift submitted two audio recordings to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), each starting with "Hey, I'm Taylor Swift," announcing the release of her latest album "The Life of a Showgirl" last October.
In addition to her voice, on April 24th, Swift also submitted a photo to the USPTO to protect her iconic image of wearing a signature sparkling leotard and holding a pink guitar on stage.
Swift's images and voice have appeared in numerous AI-generated deepfakes, including fraudulent advertisements, fake political endorsements, and explicit images.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who first disclosed the news, said the move is "exactly to protect Swift from AI threats. While existing 'right of publicity' laws provide some protection, trademark registration offers another layer of defense."
He added, "In the past, singers relied on copyright to protect recordings, but AI can now generate mimicry without copying original audio, creating a legal gap that the trademark system might fill."
Earlier, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey made a similar filing to prevent AI models from using his voice without authorization. According to USPTO databases, his filings include multiple video and audio clips.
McConaughey told the Wall Street Journal in January: "We want to draw clear boundaries for ownership in the AI world, making licensing and attribution the industry norm."
As AI models advance, requiring only a snippet of audio to mimic a voice in seconds, more performers are expressing concern. While several US states have passed laws, most target malicious or commercial exploitation. The most comprehensive is Tennessee's 2024 'Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act' (ELVIS Act).
Currently, few performers have taken legal action, one notable case being Scarlett Johansson suing Lisa AI in 2023 for using an unauthorized AI clone for advertising. (Editor: Liu Wen-yu) 1150428