Get All Access for $5/mo

Taylor Swift's Latest Trademark Filings Reveal a Shrewd Business Strategy The star stealthily filed trademark applications for certain lyrical stylings from her latest album, '1989.'

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Taylor Swift may not have been the first musician to utter the words "This sick beat," but if the shrewd superstar has her way, she could be the last.

Last October, days prior to the launch of her blockbuster album 1989, it turns out Swift stealthily filed trademarks for some of her catchier lyrical stylings, including "Nice to meet you. Where you been?," "Could show you incredible things" and "Cause we never go out of style."

The trademarks, which have not yet been granted, would apply to a dizzying array of product categories, from cosmetics to key chains to tote bags to temporary tattoos.

While other celebrities have attempted to copyright catchphrases in the past, such as Paris Hilton's legal wrangling with Hallmark over "That's hot," the Guardian reports that this is the first time an artist has attempted to trademark her own lyrics.

Related: Taylor Swift Tops the Charts With This Surprising 8-Second 'Single'

The filing likely points to a pre-emptive strike against third parties who would seek to profit off of Swift's songs as opposed to a forthcoming line of 1989-themed products, according to The Guardian. However, Swift does currently vend a "This Sick Beat' long-sleeved T-shirt on her online store.

Known for her cheer-along choruses, unparalleled album sales and impermeable image, a closer look into Swift's empire reveals a fiercely calculated business mind poised to crush any obstacles -- including hackers, naysayers and Kanye West -- on the path to global domination.

Last November, in a similarly self-protective move that shook the music industry, Swift pulled her catalogue from Spotify, saying she felt that the streaming service devalued her work's worth. At the time, Swift reiterated a rambling op-ed she'd penned for The Wall Street Journal in which she proclaimed herself "one of the few living souls in the music industry who still believes that the music industry is not dying…it's just coming alive."

Related: Taylor Swift Has High Hopes for the Future of Taylor Swift-Like Music

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.