JAKARTA - Taylor Swift is facing a new chapter in her career, but not through chart achievements, but in the courtroom.
A Las Vegas-based performer, Maren Wade, has officially filed a lawsuit against Swift and the record label UMG Recordings for alleged trademark infringement related to the album title "The Life Of A Showgirl".
Launching NME, the lawsuit was filed on March 30 in a California federal court.
In his lawsuit, Wade accused Taylor Swift of deliberately ignoring the right to a name similar to the brand he had built over the past decade.
Wade filed charges ranging from trademark infringement, false designation of origin, to unfair competition. In his lawsuit, he asked for unspecified damages and a court order to prohibit Swift from using the name.
Maren Wade's track record with that name is quite long. Since 2014, the America's Got Talent alumni has written a column in Las Vegas Weekly titled "Confessions Of A Showgirl" which reviews the dynamics of the entertainment industry.
The name then evolved into a trademark that includes podcasts to live jazz and pop performances.
According to the lawsuit documents, Wade's trademark covers a variety of lines, ranging from theater production, stage performances, to television programs.
The problem peaked after Taylor Swift released her latest album last year. Wade claimed that the album's promotion was massive and aggressive, which directly hit the audience he had built up over the years.
"In just a matter of weeks, the designation was pinned on consumer goods, printed on labels, price tags, and packaging, and used as a source of identity throughout the retail channel - all directed at the same audience that the plaintiff has cultivated for years," Wade's lawsuit reads.
Interestingly, the lawsuit document also revealed that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had rejected Swift's application to register the name. The reason for the rejection was that the name was considered very similar to Wade's, especially the key phrase "of a Showgirl". This is considered potentially confusing consumers and creating the perception of a working relationship between the two parties.
This case puts Swift in a difficult position, given that trademark law usually prioritizes the first owner. Jaymie Parkinnen, the lawyer representing Wade, gave a firm statement through The Hollywood Reporter's report on the power imbalance in this case.
"A solo performer who spent twelve years building a brand shouldn't see it disappear just because someone bigger comes along and messes it up," Parkinnen said.
Until this news was released, Taylor Swift's side has not given an official comment regarding the lawsuit. However, this situation is ironic for Swift who is known to be very protective of his intellectual property rights.
Previously, Swift was known to have asked the US government to block the efforts of a company that wanted to patent the phrase "Swift Home". Now, the megastar is actually on the opposite side in a similar trademark dispute.
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