Taylor Swift is at it again.
Earlier this year, Swift filed a number of trademark applications that had the internet in a frenzy asking questions wondering how she can “trademark” terms that were in her song lyrics. Does that mean nobody else can use them? No.
As I explained in a previous post on Swift’s IP strategy, trademarks don’t work like that. They are a source identifier for a specific good or service.
This month, Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, LLC, filed a number of trademark applications for the following
terms:
- SWIFTMAS
- A GIRL NAMED GIRL
- BLANK SPACE
- AND I’LL WRITE YOUR NAME
- 1989
As with everything else Taylor Swift does, this made the news recently. The application most are questioning is for 1989. How can she trademark a year?!?!
Again, trademarks identify the source of goods or services. She would not have exclusive rights to use 1989. Here, Swift applied to protect the following logo to cover goods/services such as retail store services, entertainment services, paper products, and apparel.
Swift has been very active in adding to her trademark portfolio and there is little to suggest that she won’t continue doing so. It is a sound strategy to protect her interests in her IP rights and not allow others to benefit from her work.
Merry Swiftmas to all of the Taylor Swift fans out there.
