Taylor Swift Knows How to Protect Her Business

The powerhouse known as Taylor Swift is currently on her Eras Tour, which has grossed more than $300 million so far. Taylor Swift makes great efforts to provide her fans with high quality products, which include her music, records, and videos. What Taylor Swift also does is protect what is hers, which includes federally trademarking her album names, her name, and some unique phrases from her songs. She knows how competitive the business environment can be and has taken proactive steps to protect her business name, images, sounds and logos from unauthorized use.  Along with endeavoring to rerecord all of her older albums, she has taken precautions, such as obtaining federal trademarks, to rightfully protect and control what is hers.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) approves federal registration for trademarks thereby providing nationwide protection. Essentially, once trademark registration is obtained, no one can use your trademarked logo in the U.S. without potentially expensive consequences.   Once you have had a trademark for five years, you can apply for an incontestability status, making it extremely difficult for another user to succeed in challenging your mark. There are many litigation advantages, which include suing for treble damages, and not having to prove ownership of the trademark. For example, if anyone tries to use Taylor’s trademarked names, it is easier for her to go to court to enforce her rights.

Taylor has created a separate limited liability company that manages and protects her trademarks.  For trademark owners without such resources, it is recommended to reach out to an attorney for assistance. Adopting and protecting a trademark can be complicated, so it is important to seek an attorney to evaluate your trademark and guide you through the trademark registration process.

This article was written by Shumaker Williams P.C. law clerk Summer Pannizzo. The information contained herein is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this blog should be construed as legal advice from Shumaker Williams P.C. or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. This blog is current as of the date of original publication.