Taylor Swift asks US government to block 'Swift Home' trademark

Osmond ChiaBusiness reporter
News imageGetty Images Taylor Swift, wearing a red dress, smiles for the camera during the Grammy Awards ceremony Getty Images

Pop star Taylor Swift has asked the US government to stop a bedding company's attempt to trademark the phrase "Swift Home", saying it could mislead consumers into believing she had endorsed their products.

Her legal team argued that the way Cathay Home has styled the word "Swift" in its branding closely resembled the singer's trademarked cursive signature.

Cathay Home, which was founded in New York, says on its site that it sells products through major retailers, and had applied for the "Swift Home" trademark for its bedding items.

The BBC has contacted Cathay Home and the teams representing Swift for comment.

Swift, represented by TAS Rights Management LLC, appealed against Cathay Home's application in a document, seen by the BBC, which was issued to the US Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday.

The "Swift Home" mark creates a "false association" to the singer that may lead Cathay Home's customers to believe the pop star had endorsed its products in some way, the filing said.

News imageVeneble LLP A side-by-side comparison of Taylor Swift's trademark "Swift" mark in black, next to Cathay Home's "Swift Home" branding. "Swift", in both designs, is stylised in cursive. Veneble LLP
Taylor Swift's trademarked logo (left), next to Cathay Home's "Swift Home" design

This was done with the intent of using Swift's "goodwill and recognition" for the company's brand, her legal team said.

The documents said that Swift owns federal trademarks that protected the use of her name and signature on goods, including bedding, clothes and products related to her music.

Swift has filed more than 300 trademarks in the US and other jurisdictions, securing her name, initials, album titles and some lyrics.

The singer‑songwriter is estimated to have a net worth well above $1bn (£730 m), bolstered by her recent run of record-breaking live shows around the world.