Were you and your girls planning on spending the weekend embroidering your favorite Taylor Swift lyrics on some totes adorbs re-purposed aprons? Getting an 11-month jump on Christmas crafting “Shake it Off”-themed ornaments? Well looks like you better scrap it and book a backup brunch quick, because as of today, both activities are illegal.
In what seems the ultimate twist of irony, the 25-year-old queen of pop anthems has just trademarked five lyrics from her most recent album 1989, effectively forbidding her similarly craft-addled fans from bedazzling her painfully infectious turns of phrase. As Vox reported, Swift has trademarked everything from “clothing” and “public appearances” to “educational services” and “ornaments” under lyrics including “This Sick Beat,” “Party Like It’s 1989,” “Cause We Never Go Out Of Style,” “Could Show You Incredible Things,” and (rather inconveniently for the rest of the world) “Nice To Meet You. Where You Been?”
But in all sincerity, Swift’s trademarking spree surely isn’t aimed at her fans, whose only crime is a paralyzing addiction to glitter. Swift is merely proving herself a savvy artist in today’s mire of a music industry, also evidenced by her controversial decision to remove all of her music from streaming site Spotify. Swift seems to realize that in today’s climate, digital downloads or even concert ticket sales are not artist’s cash cows. Merch sales, however, do turn a pretty penny. By preventing third parties from raking in the dough peddling unauthorized bootleg T-shirts or artisanal wallpaper branded with her lyrics, Swift is throwing her full weight behind the integrity of her intellectual property.
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Text Emily Manning
Image via @taylorswift