Taylor Swift is being sued for trademark infringement over her 12th studio album 'The Life of a Showgirl.
Taylor Swift Slapped With Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Over 'The Life of a Showgirl' Album Title
Taylor Swift is facing a lawsuit over her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, after a writer alleged that the title violates her existing trademark claim to a similar name.
On Monday, March 30, Maren Wade filed the lawsuit in a California federal court, accusing Swift and UMG Recordings of trademark infringement, false designation, and unfair competition, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Wade is seeking unspecified damages and a court order barring the singer from continuing to use the album name.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Rejects Swift's Application
According to the report, Wade began a column titled Confessions of a Showgirl in the Las Vegas Weekly in 2014, where the America's Got Talent participant writes about her experiences as a performer in the entertainment industry. Over the years, the column expanded into a podcast and a live show featuring pop and jazz music. Wade's trademark claim covers live stage performances, theatrical productions, and television, among other areas.
Wade's attorney, Jaymie Perkinnen, released a statement on the matter, saying, "A solo performer who spent 12 years building a brand shouldn't have to watch it disappear because someone bigger came along."
Wade alleges in the lawsuit that Swift ignored her trademark, claiming the singer's actions have weakened her brand by confusing consumers who now assume that she copied Swift. The complaint further states that "the continued erosion of that mark threatens the entirety of" Wade's brand.
An X post highlighting the trademark lawsuit involving Taylor Swift.
The complaint alleges that when Swift released The Life of a Showgirl, "they did not do so quietly." It states that "within weeks, the designation was affixed to consumer goods, stamped onto labels, tags, and packaging, and deployed as a source identifier across retail channels, all directed at the same audience Plaintiff had spent years cultivating."
When Swift applied to register The Life of a Showgirl as her own trademark, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application on the grounds that it was too similar to Wade's existing trademark. The decision centered on the shared phrase "of a showgirl," noting that both trademarks relate to music and theatrical performances, a overlap the office said could confuse consumers into thinking the two brands are linked.
As existing trademarks generally take priority over new applications, Swift will now have to choose between acquiring Wade's claim to the name or contesting the case in court.
‘The Life of a Showgirl’ by Taylor Swift won Pop Album of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Swift holds one of the largest trademark portfolios in the industry, with more than 170 active or pending registrations spanning names, phrases, and commercial designations. She has not released a public statement on the lawsuit.
The Life of a Showgirl is Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, released on October 3, 2025. The 12-track project won Pop Album of the Year at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.