Taylor Swift, Trademarks, and the Pursuit of a Federal Right of Publicity
Dillon A. Koch & Jonathan Menkes
Taylor Swift’s recent trademark filings for her voice and likeness point to a growing trend among celebrities and high-profile individuals using federal trademark law—rather than relying solely on state-by-state publicity rights—to protect against AI-generated deepfakes and unauthorized digital replicas. Brand owners should review and assess whether their own identities or brand assets may be vulnerable to AI replication and consider an IP strategy that coordinates trademark, copyright, and state-law right of publicity.
Knobbe Martens Lawyers Explore Trademark Risks of Athlete Jersey Number Branding in Sports Business Journal
Jonathan Hyman, Jonathan Menkes & Edward O. Nester
In their recent Sports Business Journal article, Knobbe Martens lawyers Jonathan Hyman, Jonathan Menkes, and Edward Nester examine a growing IP challenge in the sports industry: what happens when an athlete’s jersey number evolves from a functional identifier into a commercial brand? Using the trademark lawsuit targeting Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce over their “1587” restaurant brand as an example, the authors explore the legal complexities athletes and businesses face when building brands around jersey numbers, as well as the proactive trademark strategies that can make the difference between a defensible brand and a costly dispute.
Subscribe for News and Updates