Taylor Swift is a musician who exploded into national attention when her debut country music album reached the top 5 on the Billboard list in 2006. Since then, she has become a defining figure in the music industry, with a transition from country roots to becoming an iconic pop figure. Her albums are:
- Taylor Swift (2006)
- Fearless (2008)
- Speak Now (2010)
- Red (2012)
- 1989 (2014)
- Reputation (2017)
- Lover (2019)
- Folklore (2020)
- Evermore (2020)
- Midnights (2022)
- The Tortured Poets Department (2024)
Aside from her incredibly successful music career, the twenty-seven-year-old is involved in several other ventures, spanning philanthropy, politics, and product endorsements.
She has pledged $4 million to build a new education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN. She has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help support the music departments of various schools and universities and has also donated to cancer research and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (among other donations.) Swift expressed support for former President Barack Obama and has also spoken out against LGBT discrimination. Among the products and companies she has endorsed are Verizon Wireless, Sony, Diet Coke, and Keds.
The Significance of Trademark Applications in the Music Industry
When it comes to trademarks, Ms. Swift has mainly stuck to her name, initials, and album names. However, in 2014, she secured the trademarks to a few unique phrases from her songs, illustrating the importance of trademark protection in safeguarding song titles and other unique aspects of an artist’s work. She has also trademarked a term that’s been frequently used as a hashtag.
Taylor has had many public conflicts with rights to her materials. In 2019, she had a dispute with her former record label, Big Machine Records, and its new owner Scooter Braun over the ownership of her first six studio albums.
Swift tried to purchase her work (including the master recordings, music videos, and artwork that were copyrighted by Big Machine), however, Braun rejected her offer. After a series of public disagreements, Swift re-recorded all of her albums so that she would have the rights to them.
After going through all of this, it’s no surprise that Taylor Swift has a stringent trademark strategy to ensure there would be no more trademark infringements.
Below is our list of the live trademarks registered by Taylor Swift.
All 52 Taylor Swift Trademarks, A-Z
- 1989
- … READY FOR IT?
- 1989 TAYLOR’S VERSION
- A GIRL NAMED GIRL
- AND I’LL WRITE YOUR NAME
- BIG REPUTATION
- BLANK SPACE
- CAUSE WE NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE
- CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
- COULD SHOW YOU INCREDIBLE THINGS
- FEARLESS TAYLOR’S VERSION
- FOLKLORE
- FOLKLORE ALBUM
- LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO
- LOVER
- LOVER FEST
- LOVER FEST EAST
- LOVER FEST WEST
- MIDNIGHTS MAYHEM WITH ME
- MEREDITH & OLIVIA SWIFT
- MEREDITH, OLIVIA & BENJAMIN SWIFT
- NICE TO MEET YOU. WHERE YOU BEEN?
- PLAYERS GONNA PLAY
- RED TAYLOR’S VERSION
- REPUTATION
- REPUTATION TAYLOR’S VERSION
- SHAKE IT OFF
- SPEAK NOW
- SPEAK NOW TAYLOR’S VERSION
- SWIFT
- SWIFTIE
- SWIFTIES
- SWIFTMAS
- T. S.
- T.S. 1989
- TAYLOR-CON
- TAYLOR NATION
- TAYLOR SWIFT
- TAYLOR SWIFT EVERMORE ALBUM
- TAYLOR SWIFT FEARLESS
- TAYLOR SWIFT MIDNIGHTS
- TAYLOR SWIFT TAYLOR’S VERSION
- TAYLOR SWIFT THE ERAS TOUR
- TAYLOR SWIFT TOURING
- TAYLOR’S VERSION
- TAYMOJI
- THE 1989 WORLD TOUR
- THE OLD TAYLOR
- THE OLD TAYLOR CAN’T COME TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW
- THIS SICK BEAT
- TS
- WELCOME TO NEW YORK, IT’S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
Taylor Swift
Unsurprisingly, the first mark she registered was simply “Taylor Swift.”
Initial Application Date: March 27, 2007
The mark covers the following categories:
- Clothing, namely, shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, hats, and caps.
- Entertainment services in the nature of the rendition of live musical performances by an individual.
- Series of musical sound recordings; pre-recorded audio cassettes, compact discs, DVDs and video tapes featuring performances by an individual; mouse pads.
- Digital media, namely, downloadable audio files and downloadable audio and video recordings featuring musical entertainment; downloadable musical sound recordings; downloadable video recordings featuring musical entertainment; musical video recordings; video recordings featuring musical entertainment.
- And more
Swift
Next, Taylor went back to her name, trademarking a stylized form of her surname.
Initial Application Date: September 2, 2010
The mark covers the following categories:
- Stationery; notebooks.
- Clothing, namely, shirts, t-shirts; headwear; caps; hats; bandanas.
TS
Along with the stylized version of Swift, she also trademarked a stylized version of her initials at the same time.
Initial Application Date: September 2, 2010
The mark covers the following categories:
- Stationery; notebooks.
- Clothing, namely, shirts, t-shirts; headwear; caps; hats; bandanas; footwear.
Taylor Swift Fearless
The second mark secured by Taylor Swift stemmed from her second album, Fearless.
Initial Application Date: November 4, 2010
The mark covers the following categories:
- Digital media, namely, pre-recorded digital discs, downloadable audio files, downloadable audio recordings featuring music and musical entertainment; Digital music downloadable from the Internet; Downloadable musical sound recordings; Musical sound recordings; Series of musical sound recordings.
- Guitars.
- Printed materials and publications, namely, photographs, posters, songbooks, tourbooks.
- Backpacks.
- Plastic key chains.
Speak Now
As with her previous mark, her album title Speak Now sparked the registration of a mark across several categories.
Initial Application Date: May 14, 2011
The mark covers the following categories:
- Bed blankets; Blanket throws.
- Audio and video recordings featuring music and musical entertainment; Digital media, namely, pre-recorded digital discs, downloadable audio files, downloadable audio recordings featuring music and musical entertainment; Digital music downloadable from the Internet; Downloadable musical sound recordings; Downloadable video recordings featuring musical entertainment; Fitted plastic films known as skins for covering and protecting electronic apparatus, namely, mobile telephones, portable media players, laptop computers, mobile computers; Musical sound recordings; Musical video recordings; Series of musical sound recordings.
- Jewelry.
- Drumsticks; Guitar picks.
- Art prints; Lithographs; Photographs; Posters; Sheet music; Song books; Souvenir programs concerning musical and entertainment events.
- On-line retail store services featuring digital media, printed publications, printed materials, paper materials, clothing, headwear, collectibles, memorabilia, consumer products in the field of music, and a wide variety of products related to a musical artist.
- Clothing, namely, casual clothing, namely, tops for men, women, and children; Shirts; T-shirts; Headwear; Caps; Hats; Gloves; Scarves.
- Entertainment services, namely, providing a website featuring information in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Entertainment services, namely, providing a web portal in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Entertainment services consisting of providing a website featuring non-downloadable pre-recorded musical performances, news, articles, reviews, photographs, and other information and multi-media materials in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Providing entertainment information in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Providing entertainment information in the fields of music and musical entertainment via electronic communications, telephone communications and digital transmission.
SwiftStakes
What do you do when you’re going to hold contests for free concert tickets? Coin a new term and trademark it.
Initial Application Date: August 28, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Arranging and conducting contests and sweepstakes; Entertainment services, namely, contests and sweepstakes; Contests and sweepstakes services; Contests and sweepstakes provided via global communications networks.
Party Like It’s 1989
Along with her album 1989, Taylor trademarked this phrase.
Initial Application Date: October 25, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Musical instruments; Guitars; Accessories for musical instruments, namely, stands, cases, carrying bags and storage bags; Guitar accessories, namely, guitar stands, guitar cases, guitar carrying bags and guitar storage bags; Guitar picks; Guitar straps; Drumsticks
- All-purpose carrying bags; Beach bags; Cosmetic bags sold empty; Handbags; Backpacks; Tote bags; Textile shopping bags; Reusable shopping bags; Luggage; Luggage accessories, namely, luggage tags, plastic luggage labels, straps for luggage, and luggage inserts in the nature of packing organizers; Wallets; Key wallets; Purses; Drawstring pouches; Textile pouches; Leather pouches; Imitation leather pouches; Key pouches; Knitting pouches for carrying and holding knitting supplies; Leather keychains; Imitation leather keychains; Umbrellas; Beach umbrellas
- Lanyards for holding badges; Lanyards for holding laminates; Lanyards for holding cards; Lanyards for holding keys; All-purpose nylon straps; All-purpose straps comprised of synthetic textile materials; Cloth bags for laundry; Cloth bags for storage; Canvas bags for laundry; Canvas bags for storage of electronic accessories, ornaments, toys, memorabilia, household linen, clothing accessories, hair accessories, and footwear
- Retail store services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods; On-line retail store services, namely, retail store services provided through electronic and digital means, featuring a wide variety of consumer goods; Computerized on-line ordering services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods; Retail store services featuring consumer products in the fields of music and musical entertainment; On-line retail store services featuring consumer products in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Computerized on-line ordering services featuring consumer products in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Retail store services featuring a wide variety of products relating to a musical artist and an entertainer; On-line retail store services featuring a wide variety of products relating to a musical artist and an entertainer; Computerized on-line ordering services featuring a wide variety of products relating to a musical artist and an entertainer; Providing consumer information regarding the selection of products and services to be purchased; Providing consumer information regarding membership club services; Facilitating the exchange of information to assist in the selection of products and services to be purchased
- And more
T. S.
Continuing the trend of stylized initials, another version of TS was also registered.
Initial Application Date: October 25, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Metal keychains; Metal rings and chains for keys; Ornaments and decorations, namely, metal key chain tags, Metal tags, novelty metal tags.
- Jewelry.
- All-purpose carrying bags; Handbags; Backpacks; Tote bags; Drawstring pouches; Textile pouches.
- Beverageware.
- Hair accessories, namely, ties; Hair ornaments; Ribbons.
- Toy battery-activated light sticks; Toy battery-activated batons that glow; Christmas tree decorations; Christmas tree ornaments.
- Musical sound recordings; Series of musical sound recordings; Audio recordings featuring music and musical entertainment; Digital media, namely, pre-recorded digital discs, downloadable audio files, downloadable audio recordings, featuring entertainment, music and musical entertainment; Digital music downloadable from the Internet; Downloadable musical sound recordings; Downloadable music files; Digital media, namely, downloadable multi-media files featuring music and musical entertainment; Downloadable multi-media content containing images, graphics, artwork, text, hypertext, and audio featuring entertainment, music and musical entertainment; Ring tones; Downloadable electronic publications in the nature of songbooks and sheet music; Cases for mobile telephones; Fitted protective covers for mobile telephones; Eye glasses; Sunglasses; Cases for eye glasses; Cases for sunglasses.
- Bed linen; Household linen; Bed blankets; Throws; Bedding, namely, bed spreads.
- Retail store services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods; On-line retail store services, namely, retail store services provided through electronic and digital means, featuring a wide variety of consumer goods; Computerized on-line ordering services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods; Retail store services featuring consumer products in the fields of music and musical entertainment; On-line retail store services featuring consumer products in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Computerized on-line ordering services featuring consumer products in the fields of music and musical entertainment; Retail store services featuring a wide variety of products relating to a musical artist and an entertainer; On-line retail store services featuring a wide variety of products relating to a musical artist and an entertainer; Computerized on-line ordering services featuring a wide variety of products relating to a musical artist and an entertainer; Providing consumer information regarding the selection of products and services to be purchased; Facilitating the exchange of information to assist in the selection of products and services to be purchased.
- Cloth bags for laundry; cloth bags for storage; canvas bags for laundry; canvas bags for storage.
This Sick Beat
Stemming from a line in her song “Shake It Off”, the phrase raised some eyebrows when it was registered.
Initial Application Date: October 26, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Tops; Tops for men and women; Athletic tops for men and women; Shirts; T-shirts.
- Guitar picks; Drumsticks.
Cause We Never Go Out of Style
Another mark stemming from a lyric, the fall of 2014 saw the application for this phrase.
Initial Application Date: October 26, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Tops; Tops for men and women; Athletic tops for men and women; Shirts; T-shirts.
- Paper products, namely, notebooks, notepads, journals, note paper, writing paper; Stickers; Stationery.
Could Show You Incredible Things
Another phrase from the fall of 2014 trademark spree also stemmed from another song lyric, this time from Blank Space.
Initial Application Date: October 26, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Paper products, namely, notebooks, notepads, blank journals, blank writing journals, note paper, writing paper; Stickers; Stationery.
- Tops for men and women; Athletic tops for men and women; Shirts; T-shirts; Scarves; Neckties; Bandanas; Headwear.
Nice to Meet You. Where You Been?
Another phrase from Blank Space.
Initial Application Date: October 26, 2014
The mark covers the following categories:
- Tops for men and women; Athletic tops for men and women; Shirts; T-shirts.
Reputation
Purchased by TAS Rights Management, LLC: January 5, 2017
The mark covers the following categories:
- Clothing, namely, jeans, shirts, knit shirts, pants, jackets and shorts
Female Rage
One of Swift’s more recent trademark applications was on May 11th 2024 where her TAS Rights Management company filed an application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the trademark “Female Rage: The Musical”. This refers to a segment added to her Eras Tour set where she performs songs from her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.
Wrapping Up
Taylor Swift has been really smart about protecting her brand within the music industry. By filing numerous trademark applications for her name, song titles, and phrases from her lyrics, she has taken significant steps to enhance and protect her brand through trademark filings and protection. This isn’t just about trademark infringement and stopping others from using her marks without permission; it’s about maintaining control over her image and her career trajectory, which she’s had a lot of experience and trauma in.
Furthermore, Taylor Swift’s approach extends to the nature of stage performances and her presence in various fields of entertainment. By protecting the unique elements that define her shows, musical recordings, and public appearances, Swift not only secures her intellectual property but also enhances her ability to deliver unforgettable experiences to her fans.
By setting up strong defenses around her brand through trademark registrations, Taylor is guiding other artists on the importance of legal steps to maintain control over their work. It’s a clear indicator of her foresight, not just as a singer but as a business person, helping her to remain a prominent figure in the music industry, and contributing to her revenue as an artist.
