Popular singer Taylor Swift recently applied for a trademark for her voice and stage outfits. It includes a photo of her in her famous Eras Tour sparkly outfit and two special voice recordings, in which she says “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift”. This is his latest venture to use his popularity and power to protect the rights of artists.
Swift has spoken out against unfair rules in the music industry in the past. In 2014, he removed all his songs from the popular platform Spotify to protest the low payment of artists. Similarly, after the rights of his old songs went to others in 2019, he started re-recording them. His new songs are more popular than his original songs.
Previously, famous actor Matthew McConaughey has also trademarked some of his popular sayings but, as a leading music artist, Taylor Swift is the first to take such a step. His move now raises many new and important questions about copyright law and artists’ rights in the music industry.
Song recordings and lyrics are generally protected by law. However, it is still not entirely clear whether using artificial intelligence or AI to exactly copy a singer’s voice is a crime under the law. Swift herself was a victim of fake and offensive photos created by AI and even used in fake political campaign photos during the US election. New laws against such AI-generated fake content have been passed in the US and UK, but it’s not enough.
Trademarking her voice and image is expected to give Swift more legal protection. If someone uploads his fake AI content on social media or other internet platforms, he can remove it very quickly with the help of this trademark. Because most platforms require legal proof to remove an item.
Another big issue is the use of old songs and creations by artists to train AI. Using an AI, you can easily create a new song with any singer’s voice. But the real artist doesn’t get any recognition or money for it. Many music artists are now speaking out against this and demanding stricter laws to prevent AI from using their work without their permission.
Today, in this world of AI and copyright, there are many flaws in ethics. But the bravery that Taylor Swift has taken this trademark step to protect her identity and art will certainly become a great example for all other artists.