{"id":44941,"date":"2026-08-14T18:54:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=44941"},"modified":"2026-08-14T18:54:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:54:21","slug":"taylor-swift-faces-life-of-a-showgirl-trademark-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=44941","title":{"rendered":"Taylor Swift Faces \u2018Life Of A Showgirl\u2019 Trademark Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Paginator\">\n<header xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"sc-lfRwAv pSqCT\">\n<div class=\"sc-hndrU icIUoY\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/okmagazine.com\/ok_logo_black_small.png\" alt=\"OK Logo\"\/><span class=\"news\">NEWS<\/span><\/div>\n<figure class=\"sc-ksluoS jnYGUA\">\n<div class=\"sc-hBMVcZ foAbWl\">\n<div class=\"sc-fnVYJo jZjbnN\"><img data-mm-src=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/0x0\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Taylor Swift and Maren Wade.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/480x251\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 480w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/640x335\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 640w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/768x402\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 768w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/1024x536\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 1024w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/1280x670\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 1280w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/1440x753\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 1440w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/1600x837\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 1600w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/2160x1130\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg?position=top 2160w\" data-sizes=\"100vw\" height=\"628\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"sc-fFSRdu efvKbs\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-giAqnE haccci\"><span>Source: MEGA; @marenwade\/INSTAGRAM<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Taylor Swift\u2019s \u2018The Life of a Showgirl\u2019 faced a federal trademark dispute.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-bTJPMs jOkeMf\">\n<div class=\"flexContainer\">\n<div class=\"flexContainer\">\n<div class=\"sc-hQYogJ iAyoZX\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/RI7jbXUbY\/120x120\/ok-pink-logo-1650489068371.png\" alt=\"Profile Image\" class=\"sc-fTFLOO jxvOeh\"\/><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-dwxYxt eflEDT\">Aug. 14 2026, Published 9:32 a.m. ET<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"sc-dTSxUT dyQypj sc-gVFdEO kziYVQ\">\n<p>Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-dTSxUT dyQypj sc-hkePoP hVImEU\">\n<p>Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-header=\"true\" class=\"sc-flUlJl gvtwpJ\"\/>\n<figure class=\"sc-ksluoS jnYGUA\">\n<div class=\"sc-hBMVcZ bgyRLF\">\n<div class=\"sc-fnVYJo dfXZyd\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/0x0\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Image of Las Vegas performer Maren Wade sought to block Taylor Swift from using the album\u2019s title.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/480x270\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 480w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/640x360\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 640w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/768x432\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/1024x576\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/1280x720\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/1440x810\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/1600x900\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/be4M3IIgu\/2160x1215\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-2-1786644453224.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" height=\"720\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"sc-fFSRdu inofKU\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-giAqnE haccci\"><span>Source: @marenwade\/INSTAGRAM<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Las Vegas performer Maren Wade sought to block Taylor Swift from using the album\u2019s title.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-gkCpWe evoggL\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/okmagazine.com\/t\/las-vegas\/\">Las Vegas<\/a> performer <a href=\"https:\/\/okmagazine.com\/p\/taylor-swift-showgirl-lawsuit-explained-whats-at-stake-trademark-fight\/\"><strong>Maren Wade<\/strong><\/a>, whose legal name is Maren Flagg, has asked a federal judge in <a href=\"https:\/\/okmagazine.com\/t\/los-angeles\/\">Los Angeles<\/a> to stop Swift from using the title of her 12th studio album. Wade says the phrase is too close to her registered \u201cConfessions of a Showgirl\u201d trademark, which she has used since 2014 for a Las Vegas Weekly column, live performances, writing and digital media.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge <strong>Serena Murillo<\/strong> took the preliminary injunction request under submission after a May hearing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-dTSxUT dyQypj sc-hkePoP hVImEU\">\n<p>Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-header=\"true\" class=\"sc-flUlJl gvtwpJ\">The Showgirl Clash<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"sc-ksluoS jnYGUA\">\n<div class=\"sc-hBMVcZ bgyRLF\">\n<div class=\"sc-fnVYJo dfXZyd\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/0x0\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Image of Maren Wade\u2019s lawyer argued that the title created potential brand confusion.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/480x270\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 480w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/640x360\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 640w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/768x432\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/1024x576\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/1280x720\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/1440x810\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/1600x900\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/68c4jkKzS\/2160x1215\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-3-1786644462723.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" height=\"720\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"sc-fFSRdu inofKU\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-giAqnE haccci\"><span>Source: @marenwade\/INSTAGRAM<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Maren Wade\u2019s lawyer argued that the title created potential brand confusion.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-gkCpWe evoggL\">\n<p>Wade\u2019s attorney, <strong>Jaymie Parkkinen<\/strong>, argued that Swift\u2019s title is not just artistic branding for an album, but a source identifier attached to merchandise including candles, hairbrushes and stuffed toys.<\/p>\n<p>Parkkinen called it a \u201creverse confusion injury,\u201d describing a situation in which a smaller, earlier trademark user becomes mistaken for the copycat after a larger brand enters the space. \u201cIt\u2019s called erasure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wade\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/okmagazine.com\/t\/lawsuits\/\">lawsuit<\/a> says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office declined to register Swift\u2019s <em>The Life of a Showgirl<\/em> trademark because it was confusingly similar to Wade\u2019s mark. The application was paused.<\/p>\n<p>Parkkinen argued that Swift\u2019s album and Wade\u2019s work are related enough because both involve performers \u201ctelling the showgirl story.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sc-jHcYrh hanhiD\">\n<p>MORE ON:<\/p>\n<p>Taylor Swift<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"sc-jLqSar MszUH\">\n<p class=\"sc-bUQzRK dZWmuA\">Want OK! each day? Sign up here!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-dTSxUT dyQypj sc-hkePoP hVImEU\">\n<p>Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-header=\"true\" class=\"sc-flUlJl gvtwpJ\">Taylor Swift\u2019s Free-Speech Defense<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"sc-ksluoS jnYGUA\">\n<div class=\"sc-hBMVcZ bgyRLF\">\n<div class=\"sc-fnVYJo dfXZyd\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/0x0\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Image of Taylor Swift\u2019s legal team defended the album title as expressive and protected under the First Amendment.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/480x270\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 480w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/640x360\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 640w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/768x432\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/1024x576\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/1280x720\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/1440x810\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/1600x900\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/nIG1-pn-h\/2160x1215\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-4-1786644473709.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" height=\"720\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"sc-fFSRdu inofKU\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-giAqnE haccci\"><span>Source: MEGA<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Taylor Swift\u2019s legal team defended the album title as expressive and protected under the First Amendment.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-gkCpWe evoggL\">\n<p>Swift\u2019s attorney, <strong>J. Douglas Baldridge<\/strong>, argued that the album title is expressive and protected under the First Amendment. The judge, however, focused on whether the title falls under the Rogers test, which can protect the use of trademarks in expressive works if they are artistically relevant and not explicitly misleading.<\/p>\n<p>Murillo called that issue \u201cthe real crucible\u201d of her concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Baldridge argued consumers are unlikely to confuse Wade\u2019s smaller cabaret work with Swift\u2019s album and merchandise. He also suggested Wade waited too long to object and tried to connect herself to Swift\u2019s album online.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know if you follow Swift, your honor, but \u2018era\u2019 is a pretty big word to us,\u201d Baldridge said, referring to Wade\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/okmagazine.com\/t\/social-media\/\">social media<\/a> language.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 data-header=\"true\" class=\"sc-flUlJl gvtwpJ\">A Blockbuster Brand<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"sc-ksluoS jnYGUA\">\n<div class=\"sc-hBMVcZ bgyRLF\">\n<div class=\"sc-fnVYJo dfXZyd\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/0x0\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Image of The dispute centered on the relationship between trademark rights and creative freedom.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/480x270\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 480w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/640x360\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 640w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/768x432\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/1024x576\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/1280x720\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/1440x810\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/1600x900\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/msXYUl7pP\/2160x1215\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-5-1786644482544.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" height=\"720\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"sc-fFSRdu inofKU\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-giAqnE haccci\"><span>Source: MEGA<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The dispute centered on the relationship between trademark rights and creative freedom.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-gkCpWe evoggL\">\n<p>Swift\u2019s website says <em>The Life of a Showgirl<\/em> had the largest sales week for any album in U.S. music history when it was released October 3, 2025. It became Swift\u2019s 15th No. 1 album and set records for the most No. 1 albums in the 21st century, and by a solo artist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWS Source: MEGA; @marenwade\/INSTAGRAM Taylor Swift\u2019s \u2018The Life of a Showgirl\u2019 faced a federal trademark dispute. Aug. 14 2026, Published 9:32 a.m. ET Article continues below advertisement Article continues below advertisement Source: @marenwade\/INSTAGRAM Las Vegas performer Maren Wade sought to block Taylor Swift from using the album\u2019s title. Las Vegas performer Maren Wade, whose legal&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.okmagazine.com\/brand-img\/PHQTeKsOi\/1200x628\/trumps-late-night-feuds-turn-emmy-season-resistance-test-1786644401756.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44941\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}