Taylor Swift is known for her meticulous control over her artistic output, but her legal team has also been quietly constructing an extensive intellectual property empire. Over the past two decades, Swift has filed more than 300 trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), securing over 150 registered trademarks that cover her name, initials, album titles, song lyrics, fan-derived phrases, and even the names of her cats.
This portfolio allows Swift to prevent unauthorized commercial use of her brand, from counterfeit merchandise to unauthorized branding. Her legal team has actively enforced these rights, shutting down a Swift Home bedding line and other infringing products. The process hasn't always been smooth—applications for marks like 'The Archer' and 'The Life of a Showgirl' have faced rejections or legal challenges—but Swift continues to expand her protections.
Core Name and Initial Marks
Swift's first trademark filings date back to 2007, when she applied for her full name. By 2008, she had three separate registrations for 'Taylor Swift' covering music recordings, live performances, and clothing. Today, she holds over 30 additional variations for different merchandise categories including jewelry, linens, and musical instruments, both as text and as her signature image.
Her surname 'Swift' is also protected, with a registration for her signature version approved in 2014 and a newer registration for the plain word mark covering clothing approved in 2025. The initials 'T.S.' appear in 21 different designs, each tied to specific album eras—from the marker-drawn style of 1989 to the blackletter type of Reputation. A pending application for the 'T.S.' logo from The Life of the Showgirl album, featuring stars between letters, is still under review.
Album and Song Title Trademarks
Swift has successfully trademarked most of her album titles, though sometimes with adjustments. 'Fearless' was initially rejected due to a conflict with Fearless Records, so Swift registered 'Taylor Swift Fearless' instead. 'Speak Now' is protected by seven word marks covering music and merchandise. '1989' secured two registrations after a lengthy back-and-forth with the USPTO. 'Reputation' owns 12 trademarks, though a jewelry-specific application was denied because of 'Sterling Reputation.'
Her pandemic albums also received protection: 'Folklore' and 'Folklore Album' were registered in 2022 and 2025 after overcoming objections from the accessory brand 'Folklore the Label.' For Evermore, Swift registered ten marks for 'Taylor Swift Evermore Album' rather than attempting to trademark 'Evermore' alone, which was the subject of a separate lawsuit from Utah's Evermore Park. Midnights is protected under 'Taylor Swift Midnights,' with two registrations granted in 2024.
Song titles and lyrics are also heavily protected. 'Shake It Off' has been registered since 2017, covering clothing, stationery, and posters. 'Look What You Made Me Do' is trademarked for music and merchandise. 'The Old Taylor Can't Come to the Phone Right Now' has two versions—one for general merchandise and one specifically for cellphone cases. '...Ready For It?' and 'Big Reputation' (for shirts only) are also registered. Other lyrics from the 1989 era, like 'Blank Space' and 'Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you,' were once protected but have since expired.
Fan Culture and Brand Extensions
Swift owns seven trademarks for 'Swiftie' and three for 'Swifties,' covering music, merchandise, and fan club services. 'Swiftmas,' the name of her 2014 fan-gift event, is protected by two registrations. 'Taylor Nation,' the social media handle for her marketing team, was registered in 2018. 'Taymoji,' mobile stickers from the now-defunct 'The Swift Life' app, are still trademarked for social networking and computer games. The app itself, however, had its trademark applications abandoned before registration.
Even her cats are protected: Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin Swift have a joint trademark registered in 2023, covering a wide variety of merchandise. 'Christmas Tree Farm,' her 2019 holiday song, gained two marks in 2023 and 2024 for music and merchandise.
Re-Recording Era and Pending Applications
With her re-recorded albums, Swift has been especially proactive. 'Taylor's Version' is the cornerstone, with ten registrations granted in 2025 covering music and merchandise. 'Fearless Taylor's Version,' 'Red Taylor's Version,' 'Speak Now Taylor's Version,' and '1989 Taylor's Version' all have their own sets of marks, often in both word and stylized logo forms. 'Reputation Taylor's Version' is still pending, fueling speculation among fans about its imminent release.
The Eras Tour also generated four registrations for 'Taylor Swift The Eras Tour,' filed in 2022 and 2023 for both the live shows and the concert film. 'Taylor Swift Touring' was registered in 2023, just before the Eras Tour began. 'Midnights Mayhem With Me,' the TikTok series that revealed the Midnights track list, is trademarked for online videos since 2024.
Currently pending applications include 'Female Rage: The Musical,' 'Taylor Swift Taylor's Version,' and 'Reputation Taylor's Version.' More notably, Swift has filed to trademark her voice and likeness—an unusual and untested legal move likely aimed at combating artificial intelligence deepfakes. The battle over 'The Life of the Showgirl' continues, with Las Vegas performer Maren Wade suing Swift for trademark infringement after the USPTO preliminarily denied Swift's application. Swift's lawyers have called the lawsuit 'absurd' and 'meritless,' arguing that no fan would confuse a cabaret show with a billion-dollar pop star's album.
Swift's trademark strategy reflects a broader industry trend where artists are increasingly asserting ownership over every aspect of their brand. Her portfolio now rivals those of peers like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Bad Bunny, and it continues to grow as new albums and tours generate additional marks. The combination of traditional registrations, novel attempts to protect her voice and likeness, and aggressive enforcement ensures that Taylor Swift's name—and every word she coins—remains firmly under her control.
Source: Billboard News