• Taylor Swift files trademarks for two audio clips and an image to protect against AI misuse.
• The trademarks aim to safeguard her voice and likeness from deepfakes.
• Trademark attorney Josh Gerben highlights the need for such protections in the AI era.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has filed trademark applications for her voice and image to protect against misuse by artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, the applications, submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, cover two audio clips where Swift introduces her upcoming album and one image of her performing on stage with a guitar. These measures are seen as a response to the rise of AI-generated deepfakes which have been used in misleading ads and other unauthorized contexts, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who highlighted the filings, emphasized that existing 'Right of Publicity' laws offer limited protection, while trademark filings could provide an additional layer against unauthorized AI usage. This includes instances where AI can generate audio that mimics an artist’s voice without using any existing recording, a significant concern in today's digital age. Gerben noted that Swift's actions could set a precedent for other celebrities to seek similar protections in light of growing AI capabilities, according to CBS News and India Times.

Underlining the potential pitfalls of AI use, Gerben mentioned that “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 believes that a wave of similar filings by other public figures is imminent as they try to combat the risks posed by AI deepfakes. He compared Swift’s initiative to similar efforts made by actor Matthew McConaughey, who has also filed trademarks for portions of his likeness and voice, solidifying this trend as an essential move in intellectual property management in the AI era, according to Channel News Asia, CBS News, and India Times.