Taylor Swift is facing a federal lawsuit over her album The Life of a Showgirl, accused of infringing on Las Vegas performer Maren Wade’s trademark for Confessions of a Showgirl.
The complaint was filed Monday in federal court by Wade, who argues that Swift used a title that closely resembles Confessions of a Showgirl, a column Wade began writing for Las Vegas Weekly in 2014. The column, which focused on her experiences in the entertainment industry, was later developed into a live show and a book under the same name.
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Wade argues the album’s release has damaged the brand that she spent years building.
Wade secured a registered trademark for Confessions of a Showgirl from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2015. According to the lawsuit, that trademark later achieved “incontestable” status, a designation that strengthens exclusive rights after years of consistent use.
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The filing also states that Swift previously sought to trademark The Life of a Showgirl, but her application was denied because it was considered too similar to Wade’s existing trademark. Despite that, the lawsuit alleges Swift and her team continued to use the title and expanded it across a wide commercial release.
Swift accepted the iHeartRadio Award for Pop Album of the Year, The Life of a Showgirl, on Saturday. She described the album as “happy, confident, and free,” and inspired by her popular Eras tour.