IPGuy

IPGuy Leading Authority and Speaker in all aspects of Intellectual Property, Patents, Copyright, trade marks and secrets including litigation.

Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, two members of the rock band The Guess Who, helped create the music that made the ban...
09/03/2026

Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, two members of the rock band The Guess Who, helped create the music that made the band famous, including “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” and “No Time.” The band broke up in 1975, but bassist Jim Kale and others continued performing under the name. Bachman and Cummings sued to reclaim the name and sought $20 million in damages.

The lawsuit settled after Cummings terminated the performing-rights arrangements for their biggest hits. A fascinating strategy.

In this article, I explore the case's background, the strategy that returned the name, and the lessons for business owners.

Click here to read the article
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/how-the-guess-who-lost-their-name/


𝗜’𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝟰𝟬 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗢𝗪𝗡.Sometimes it’s an invention.Some...
09/02/2026

𝗜’𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝟰𝟬 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗢𝗪𝗡.

Sometimes it’s an invention.

Sometimes it’s a trademark.

Sometimes it’s confidential information that should be protected as a trade secret.

And sometimes it’s something the business owner never imagined could be intellectual property.

That is what makes the recent trademark activity involving Taylor Swift, Matthew McConaughey, Lionel Richie, and the Backstreet Boys particularly interesting.

They aren’t simply protecting names and logos. They are identifying distinctive elements of their voices, appearances, and performances that have commercial value and asking: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼?

That’s a question more business owners should ask.

Your company may have valuable intellectual property hiding in plain sight. The first step is to recognize it. The second is to determine whether and how it can be protected.

In my latest article, I explain what these celebrities are doing and the lesson I believe business owners should take from it.

Click here to read the article:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/taylor-swift-is-trying-to-trademark-herself/

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗢. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦?Most businesses think about trademarks in a predictable way...
09/01/2026

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗢. 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦?

Most businesses think about trademarks in a predictable way: protect the company name, the logo, and maybe an important product name.

Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey are thinking much more broadly.

They are seeking trademark protection for elements of their 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 because those elements have become recognizable indicators of their identity.

That raises an interesting question for your business.

Do customers recognize a specific sound? A phrase? The appearance of a product? A spokesperson? A recurring introduction in your videos?

If customers immediately associate something with your company, it may be an intellectual property asset worth evaluating.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁.

Read my latest article on what Taylor Swift, Matthew McConaughey, and others are doing and why business owners should pay attention.

Click here to read the article:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/taylor-swift-is-trying-to-trademark-herself/

𝗔𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨Your face.Your voice.Your words.And it can make the fake version look surprisingl...
08/31/2026

𝗔𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨

Your face.
Your voice.
Your words.

And it can make the fake version look surprisingly realistic.

That’s why Taylor Swift recently filed trademark applications for recordings of her voice and an image of herself performing.

She isn’t alone. Matthew McConaughey has registered recordings of his voice. Lionel Richie and the Backstreet Boys have also filed applications to protect distinctive recordings.

They’re adding another layer of legal protection around what makes them recognizable.

Business owners should pay attention because AI isn’t just a celebrity problem. AI can also copy the distinctive elements customers associate with your company.

The question is whether you have identified and protected them before anyone else starts using them.

My latest article explains what’s happening and what business owners should consider now.

Click here to read the article:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/taylor-swift-is-trying-to-trademark-herself/

“𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧” 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞When you hear those three words, you immediately think of Ma...
08/28/2026

“𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧” 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞

When you hear those three words, you immediately think of Matthew McConaughey.

That recognition has value.

McConaughey has secured federal trademark registrations for recordings of his distinctive voice, including “Alright, alright, alright.” Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie, and the Backstreet Boys are pursuing similar strategies.

They understand something every business owner should consider: 𝗔 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗼.

A sound. A phrase. A product shape. A movement. A distinctive demonstration. Even the way someone introduces your company could become something customers associate with a single source.

And AI is making those distinctive characteristics easier to copy.

In my latest article, I explain what these celebrities are doing—and what it could mean for your business.

Click here to read the article:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/taylor-swift-is-trying-to-trademark-herself/

𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙Not just her name. Her 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 and 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲.Taylor Swift has filed federal tradema...
08/27/2026

𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙

Not just her name. Her 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 and 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲.

Taylor Swift has filed federal trademark applications for recordings of herself saying “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor,” as well as an image of herself performing with a pink guitar.

It is the strategy celebrities are using to combat AI fakes. AI can imitate her voice and appearance and potentially make it look like she is endorsing something she has never seen.

Swift is responding by turning recognizable elements of her identity into legally protected brand assets.

There is an important lesson here for business owners. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?

It might be worth far more than you realize.

In my latest article, I explain what Swift and other celebrities are doing, why AI is reshaping trademark strategy, and what business owners can learn from these developments.

Click here to read the article:
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/taylor-swift-is-trying-to-trademark-herself/

Taylor Swift has filed U.S. trademark applications for her voice and image. She is not alone; other celebrities have as ...
08/21/2026

Taylor Swift has filed U.S. trademark applications for her voice and image. She is not alone; other celebrities have as well. Matthew McConaughey appears to have been the first and has successfully registered his voice and likeness. Although a court hasn't tested it, it is a savvy strategy to prevent AI fakes.

In this article, I explore the new trend of securing trademark protection for yourself.

Click here to read the article
👉 https://www.ipguy.com/taylor-swift-is-trying-to-trademark-herself/

𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘?Most manufacturers can identify their buildings, equipment, and inventory. Far ...
08/06/2026

𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘?

Most manufacturers can identify their buildings, equipment, and inventory. Far fewer can identify all the confidential information that gives the business its competitive advantage.

That information may include formulas, production methods, machine settings, tolerances, pricing strategies, supplier terms, customer requirements, and solutions developed through years of trial and error.

I recommend a simple system called the ReCiPe for Success:

Recognize the information that gives your company an advantage.

Collect it so the business can identify, document, and control it.

Protect it through agreements, restricted access, training, cybersecurity, and exit procedures.

You cannot protect what you have never identified. And discovering what mattered after an employee takes it is far too late.

I've prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:

👉 https://www.ipguy.com/your-best-employee-just-left-did-your-trade-secrets-leave-too/

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗘𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗦Most companies use interviews to decide w...
08/06/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗘𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗦

Most companies use interviews to decide whom to hire. Far fewer conduct meaningful exit interviews when employees leave.

That is a mistake.

A departing employee should be asked whether company information was stored on a personal device, sent to a personal email account, uploaded to private cloud storage, or retained in notebooks and files. Company equipment should be returned, access should be terminated immediately, and continuing confidentiality obligations should be confirmed in writing.

An exit interview may uncover a problem while it can still be contained. It also demonstrates that the company consistently treats its confidential information as valuable.

Once a trade secret becomes public, a lawsuit may recover damages. It may not restore the secret.

I've prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:

👉 https://www.ipguy.com/your-best-employee-just-left-did-your-trade-secrets-leave-too/

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗘𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗣I represented a company accused of stealing a competitor’s tr...
08/05/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗞𝗘𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗣

I represented a company accused of stealing a competitor’s trade secrets. During the case, we learned that a recently hired employee had used his personal computer while working for his former employer.

That laptop contained the company’s confidential information.

The former employer had allowed employees to access and store sensitive business information on personal devices. When the employee left, the company could not retrieve the device, control the files, or confirm what had been retained.

A bring-your-own-device policy may seem convenient, but convenience can become enormously expensive when confidential information is involved.

If employees can download your most valuable information onto devices you do not own or control, you may be giving away the virtual keys to your kingdom.

I've prepared a Guide and Checklist to help business owners identify their intellectual property. Click below to download a free copy:

👉 https://www.ipguy.com/your-best-employee-just-left-did-your-trade-secrets-leave-too/

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