Taylor Swift is facing a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by a Las Vegas-based performer over her latest album branding.
The complaint, obtained by Billboard, was filed on Monday by Maren Wade.
According to the suit, Taylor Swift’s record-breaking album, The Life of a Showgirl, has overshadowed an existing brand known as Confessions of a Showgirl.
Wade, who has held a trademark for Confessions of a Showgirl since 2015, uses the name for a touring cabaret show centered on the humorous experiences of a modern-day entertainer. She alleges that the similarity in phrasing between the two has infringed on her intellectual property.
Taylor Swift had previously attempted to trademark the album title, but the application was rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office due to a “likelihood of confusion” with Wade’s brand.
In the lawsuit, Wade claims that the popularity of Swift’s album has negatively impacted her business, stating that the new era has “threatened to swallow” her smaller operation.
The case names Swift, her company TAS Rights Management, Universal Music Group, and its merchandise arm Bravadoas defendants.
Wade is seeking unspecified financial damages as well as an injunction to halt the sale of merchandise tied to the album, including clothing, drinkware, candles, and hairbrushes.
However, the claims focus specifically on merchandise and branding, not the music itself, with the complaint noting that she “respects Taylor Swift’s right to creative expression.”
