Legendary American singer Lionel Richie has filed applications to trademark the sound of his voice in a move that reflects growing efforts by celebrities to protect their identities from the rising threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes.
- +Lionel Richie files to trademark voice over rising AI deepfakes
The four-time Grammy Award winner submitted four trademark applications to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), seeking protection for audio recordings of him delivering some of his most iconic phrases, Telegraph UK reported.
The four-time Grammy Award winner submitted four trademark applications to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), seeking protection for audio recordings of him delivering some of his most iconic phrases, Telegraph UK reported.
The phrases include “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?”, “Say You, Say Me,” “Easy Like Sunday Morning,” and “All Night Long.”
According to the filings, the applications were submitted by RichLion Holdings LLC, an entity associated with Richie.
Trademark law allows certain sounds to be registered if they function as source identifiers, meaning consumers associate them with a specific brand, service, or individual. One well-known example is Netflix’s signature “tu-dum” sound, which has trademark protection.
However, reports say Richie’s applications may face hurdles because the USPTO will require evidence that the voice recordings function as trademarks rather than simply famous song lyrics.
In the United States, a person’s name, likeness, and voice are traditionally protected under state-level right-of-publicity laws.
More recently, Sony Music disclosed that it had requested the removal of over 135,000 AI-generated tracks that allegedly impersonated artists on its roster.
Richie is not alone in pursuing this strategy. In April, global pop star Taylor Swift filed trademark applications covering recordings of her voice saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” alongside efforts to protect her likeness.
Similarly, popular YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, became the target of an AI-generated scam advertisement that circulated on TikTok. The manipulated video falsely portrayed him offering iPhones for as little as $2, misleading viewers into believing the promotion was genuine.