• Taylor Swift has filed three trademark applications to protect her voice and image from AI deepfakes.
• The filings include two audio clips and one image, specifically aimed at combating unauthorized AI usage.
• Trademark attorney Josh Gerben suggests this approach provides additional protection alongside current laws.
• Earlier this year, actor Matthew McConaughey also took similar trademark actions to safeguard his likeness.
• Swift's voice and image have already been exploited in AI-generated content including false ads and explicit materials.

Taylor Swift has taken a proactive approach to protect her identity by filing trademark applications for her voice and image at the US Patent and Trademark Office. These applications include two audio clips where she promotes her new album, "The Life of a Showgirl," and a photo that captures her on stage with a pink guitar. The move aims to guard against the rising threats of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, which have previously exploited her likeness for fake advertisements and misleading endorsements, according to BBC, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

The audio clips feature Swift saying promotional phrases like, "Hey, it's Taylor Swift, and you can listen to my new album on Amazon Music Unlimited," highlighting her desire to maintain control over her brand in an age where AI can create seemingly realistic replicas of her voice and image. The trademark filing emphasizes her ownership of the trademarks via her company, TAS Rights Management, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

According to trademark attorney Josh Gerben, this approach brings a new dimension to legal protections, as it specifically targets the risks presented by AI technology, which has increasingly blurred the lines of copyright and trademark rights. Gerben noted that while existing laws offer some level of protection, trademark registration can serve as an additional safeguard, particularly in cases of unauthorized AI-generated content that mimics an artist's voice or likeness, as detailed by BBC, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

This move follows that of actor Matthew McConaughey, who has also sought to trademark his voice and likeness. He emphasized the importance of establishing ownership in an AI-driven landscape, indicating a wider trend among celebrities seeking to protect their identities amidst evolving technology, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.