Taylor Swift's legal process behind the branding has reportedly hit a small obstacle. Federal records show that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has paused a trademark application linked to Swift's phrase "The Life of a Showgirl." The filing was submitted by the singer's company, TAS Rights Management LLC.
Taylor Swift facing roadblock over 'The Life of a Showgirl' trademark is temporary
The pause in Taylor Swift's federal application process does not mean the trademark request for the phrase "The Life of a Showgirl" has been denied. Instead, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) placed the application on hold while it evaluates two earlier marks that could potentially conflict with Swift's proposed title.
One of the marks prompting the delay is "Confessions of a Showgirl," a phrase registered in 2015 by Las Vegas performer Maren Wade. According toUSA Today, Wade originally filed the application in 2014. The USPTO later granted federal protection for the title in connection with entertainment services, including live performances, stage productions, television programming, and digital publications such as blogs and e-zines.
Because both Wade's trademark and Swift's proposed title use the phrase "of a showgirl," trademark examiners believe people might think the two brands are connected. This could cause confusion about whether they come from the same source.
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A second factor affecting Swift's filing involves a separate trademark application for the single word "Showgirl." In December 2024, Harlem Brands Inc. applied to register "Showgirl" for a line of perfumes and related fragrance products. That application has already progressed through examination and received a Notice of Allowance.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerbenexplained in a recent blog postthat roughly one in five trademark applications encounters a similar outcome of refusal during the review process. "This type of refusal is fairly common. About 20% of all trademarks filed with the USPTO receive a similar refusal," he stated.
"The main point of this argument will be to persuade the USPTO that consumers are unlikely to think that 'Confessions of a Showgirl' and 'The Life of a Showgirl' come from the same source," Gerben further wrote. In Swift's case, the attorney noted that the two titles may communicate separate ideas. "Confessions of a Showgirl," he said, reads like "a personal narrative or tell-all account," while "The Life of a Showgirl" suggests "a broader portrayal of the experience itself."
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