Lionel Richie Seeks Trademark Protection for Voice Sound Clips Amid Rising Celebrity AI Voice Safeguards

Four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie submitted four trademark applications on June 11, 2024, to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), seeking protection for audio recordings of his voice. Each application features Richie speaking a phrase drawn from one of his well-known songs, including the classic line “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” alongside “Say You, Say Me,” “Easy Like Sunday Morning,” and “All Night Long.”

Intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP first identified the filings. He noted that Richie filed these applications on an “intent-to-use” basis, indicating that the phrases are not yet employed as trademarks in commerce but are intended for future use.

Gerben explained that these applications represent a strategic move to secure new legal tools for protecting celebrity voices amid the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. “Ultimately, these applications are less about protecting individual song lyrics and more about seeking new legal tools to protect celebrity voices in the AI era,” he wrote.

Trademark law permits the registration of sounds that function as source identifiers, meaning consumers associate the sound directly with a particular product or service. Gerben cited the familiar “tu-dum” sound Netflix plays when launching its app as a common example of a registered sound trademark.

Historically, trademark filings for song lyrics alone have been rare because lyrics by themselves do not typically qualify as trademarks. In contrast, a sound can be registered if it serves as a distinctive identifier of the source of goods or services. This distinction is critical in Richie’s case, as the applications focus on the sound of his voice rather than the lyrics’ textual content.

If granted, these trademarks could provide Richie with grounds to challenge unauthorized imitations or deepfake reproductions of his voice, extending protections beyond what copyright law and publicity rights currently offer. The applications specify that the sounds will be used in connection with providing music and entertainment information, videos, and news about a musical artist.

Gerben cautioned that from a technical trademark perspective, these filings face significant hurdles. The USPTO will require convincing evidence that the sounds function as trademarks rather than merely famous lyrics. “Whether Richie‘s applications ultimately succeed remains an open question,” Gerben observed.

He further noted that if successful, Richie’s filings could serve as an important test case for how trademark law adapts to challenges posed by AI technologies.

Richie’s move follows similar recent filings by other celebrities. In April 2024, Taylor Swift applied to register her voice saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” with TAS Rights Management, LLC listed as the owner. Actor Matthew McConaughey has sought trademark protection for the audio of his iconic line “Alright, alright, alright” from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused. Additionally, talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel has filed comparable applications this year.

These developments highlight a growing trend among public figures to leverage trademark law to safeguard their vocal identities against unauthorized AI-generated reproductions and deepfake impersonations, signaling a new frontier in intellectual property rights enforcement.