What is TAYLOR-CON? Taylor Swift's management group files trademark application
Taylor Swift's management group, TAS Rights Management LLC, filed an application for "TAYLOR-CON" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office Saturday to trademark the term.
"Her team filed an intent to use application," said Vanderbilt law professor Joseph Fishman, who teaches intellectual property classes. "In order to get that registration, she will need to use the mark 'TAYLOR-CON.' That could be for putting on a convention or any of the things listed in the application."
Fishman said this is Swift's management team requesting to get priority before anyone else can. If approved, Swift will need to follow up and show the patent office proof of actual use, which can happen up to six months after getting a trademark registered. Otherwise, the application lapses.
Swift's application would apply the trademark to hundreds of goods and services including music, music video recordings, live musical performances and concerts, ringtones, clothes, notebooks, dishware, glassware and more.
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Taylor-Con is a seemingly unrelated, sold-out, fan-based event coming to Dallas, Texas, on March 15-16. The application does not explain any affiliation between Swift and "TAYLOR-CON." She will be on a break from her Eras Tour at the time, wrapping up her Singapore concerts on March 9.
There is no font style, size or color associated with the trademark in the application.
"This means it covers the word 'TAYLOR-CON' broadly," Fishman said. "It's not tied to any style or typeface."
The trademark application "has been accepted by the office (has met the minimum filing requirements) and has not yet been assigned to an examiner," according to trademark office's website.
It may take weeks before the application is approved or denied. USA TODAY has reached out to Swift's representation for comment.
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