Pop star Taylor Swift is facing a legal battle.
On October 30th, Page Six reported that Maren Wade, a writer and broadcaster based in Las Vegas, has filed a lawsuit against Taylor Swift. Wade claims that the title and concept of Swift's 12th studio album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' released last year, infringes on her trademark. The lawsuit alleges trademark infringement, false designation, and violation of the Unfair Competition Law. Wade's team argues that Swift has used a brand that Wade has built over more than a decade without permission, seeking damages and a halt to marketing using the contested name.
Wade, who appeared on 'America's Got Talent,' has been writing a column titled 'Confessions of a Showgirl' for Las Vegas Weekly since 2014. Her attorney, Jamie Kapinen, emphasized, "Wade has been building this brand for over 10 years and registered the trademark in 2015, expanding it into live shows, TV, and theater projects."
Wade's team revealed that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected Taylor Swift's trademark application for 'The Life of a Showgirl,' citing its similarity to existing brands. They claim Swift promoted the name as original and used it on clothing tags and packaging. Wade's team criticized Swift, stating, "Taylor Swift, who is well aware of the harm trademark infringement can cause to a brand, made a hypocritical decision to infringe on others' rights for her commercial gain." Taylor Swift's representatives have not yet issued an official statement.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift debuted in 2006 with the single 'Tim McGraw' and has won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year four times. In August last year, she announced her engagement to NFL player Travis Kelce.
Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr