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The Briefing: Taylor Swift, Trademark Law, and the Fight Over ‘Life of a Showgirl’

By Matthew N. Sugarman & Scott Hervey on April 17, 2026
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Can a five word phrase be worth millions? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Matt Sugarman break down the high stakes trademark dispute between Las Vegas performer Maren Flagg and Taylor Swift over the phrase “The Life of a Showgirl.”

In this episode, they cover:

– Whether a phrase can function as a protectable trademark or just a descriptive title

– How the Rogers test applies to tour names and merchandise

– What recent Supreme Court rulings mean for First Amendment defenses in trademark law

From concert tours to commercial merch, the line between branding and expression is getting harder to define. Tune in for a clear look at where trademark law meets the First Amendment.

Watch this episode on our YouTube or listen to the podcast here.

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Photo of Scott Hervey Scott Hervey

Scott Hervey is a corporate and intellectual property attorney at Weintraub Tobin who works with companies in a variety of different industries. His clients include wineries, restaurants, technology companies, and entertainment/new media ventures. Scott has led his clients through hundreds of matters involving…

Scott Hervey is a corporate and intellectual property attorney at Weintraub Tobin who works with companies in a variety of different industries. His clients include wineries, restaurants, technology companies, and entertainment/new media ventures. Scott has led his clients through hundreds of matters involving complex acquisitions, licensing, financings, and other transactions. He also assists clients in protecting their valuable brands through trademark infringement litigation, domain name infringement arbitration, and proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. He discusses IP Law topics on the weekly video series The Briefing.

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  • Posted in:
    Intellectual Property
  • Blog:
    The IP Law Blog
  • Organization:
    Weintraub Tobin
  • Article: View Original Source

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