Story perspectives

Taylor Swift Files Trademarks to Block AI Deepfake Voices

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Swift filed three U.S. trademark applications for two spoken phrases and a concert image to curb AI-generated deepfakes, following filings by Matthew McConaughey.
Attorney Josh Gerben says sound marks could block AI-generated celebrity voices, though courts have not yet ruled on their validity.
Swift’s likeness has already appeared in AI-generated porn and a fabricated endorsement by U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting scholars to say the trademarks may deter unsophisticated infringers.

History

Historical Context

After the Ninth Circuit’s 1988 Midler v. Ford ruling—where Bette Midler won a $1.5 million judgment for an unauthorized sound-alike in a car commercial—courts have treated a celebrity’s voice as protectable identity. Today, Taylor Swift’s trademark filings for spoken phrases and Matthew McConaughey’s push for sound-mark safeguards against AI deepfakes echo that precedent, shaping future celebrity-right disputes.

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Story summary

Swift filed three U.S. trademark applications for two spoken phrases and a concert image to curb AI-generated deepfakes, following filings by Matthew McConaughey.
Attorney Josh Gerben says sound marks could block AI-generated celebrity voices, though courts have not yet ruled on their validity.
Swift’s likeness has already appeared in AI-generated porn and a fabricated endorsement by U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting scholars to say the trademarks may deter unsophisticated infringers.

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