Taylor Swift’s lawyers aggressively hit back at a former Last Vegas showgirl who’s suing the pop star for trademark infringement.
Maren Flagg sued Swift in March, claiming the singer’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” infringes upon her 2015 trademark of the phrase “Confessions of a Showgirl,” which Flagg has used to build up her own brand.
Flagg — who goes by Maren Wade when she performs — is asking for Swift to be immediately blocked from selling related merchandise as they battle in court.
Swift’s lawyers blasted Flagg and her lawsuit in a brief filed Wednesday.
“This motion, just like Maren Flagg’s lawsuit, should never have been filed,” her lawyers stated in the filing obtained by Variety. “It is simply Ms. Flagg’s latest attempt to use Taylor Swift’s name and intellectual property to prop up her brand.”
Her lawyers also called Flagg comparing her cabaret show to Swift’s album “absurd.”
“[Flagg[ performs, if at all, in small intimate venues, such as a: ’55+ active community,’ ’55+ golf resort’; ‘RV & Golf Resort’; ’90 seat cabaret-style venue’ that offers dinner; hotel; and private supper club,” they state. “Her website lists no upcoming performances.”
Swift’s legal team also accused Flagg of at first attempting to associate herself with “The Life of a Showgirl” before suing her months later.
“Prior to the album announcement, plaintiff had never used ‘the life of a showgirl’ in her social media promotion,” the brief states. “Following the announcement, plaintiff used the phrase or posted generally about Ms. Swift or the album over 40 times on her branded Instagram and TikTok accounts.”
In a statement to Billboard, Flagg’s attorney, Jaymie Parkkinen, said he and his client still plan to move forward with the lawsuit.
“We read it. Defendants assert First Amendment protection for napkins and hairbrushes,” the statement reads. “We look forward to filing our response next week.”
In a statement to CBS News about the lawsuit in March, Parkkinen said Flagg was never contacted about Swift using the “Life of a Showgirl” name — despite Swift allegedly trying to trademark the phrase with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but getting denied because it was too similar to Flagg’s.
He said of his client, “She registered it. She earned it. We have great respect for Swift’s talent and success, but trademark law exists to ensure that creators at all levels can protect what they’ve built. That’s what this case is about.”
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