Taylor Swift Deploys Trademark Shields Against AI Deepfakes

Swift filed three USPTO trademarks—two audio phrases ("Hey, it’s Taylor Swift" and "Hey, it’s Taylor") and a visual trademark for a stage photo—to block unauthorized AI use of her voice and likeness, following a Matthew McConaughey strategy. The move aims to deter AI firms and create legal leverage, though its efficacy in court remains untested; the broader issue of training-data rights and Swift’s past AI-related controversies underscore the stakes for celebrities and the public alike.