Lionel Richie is taking a direct legal swing at AI-era voice cloning, and music publishers, rights holders, and artists should be paying attention. His filings show how celebrity voices are now being pushed into trademark strategy as labels and estates look for protection beyond copyright and publicity rights.
Richie files four USPTO applications for voice-based marks
Lionel Richie has applied to trademark the sound of his voice, filing four applications on Thursday, June 11, at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Each application covers audio of Richie saying a phrase drawn from one of his songs, including “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” as well as “Say You, Say Me,” “Easy Like Sunday Morning,” and “All Night Long.” The applications list RichLion Holdings, LLC as the owner.
The filings were first spotted by intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP. Gerben said the applications were filed on an “intent-to-use basis,” meaning Richie is not yet using the phrases as trademarks in commerce.
The filings point to a bigger fight over AI and celebrity voices
Gerben said the move is “less about protecting individual song lyrics and more about seeking new legal tools to protect celebrity voices in the AI era.” He also noted that sounds can be registered as trademarks, pointing to Netflix’s “tu-dum” as an example.
According to Gerben IP, trademark filings over lyrics have historically been rare because a lyric standing alone does not qualify for protection as a mark. A sound only qualifies if it works as a “source identifier,” meaning listeners connect it to a specific product or service. Gerben added that a registered mark could give Richie grounds to challenge imitations that merely resemble his voice, beyond what copyright law and publicity rights already provide.
The blog post also says the applications indicate the sounds will eventually be used in connection with providing music and entertainment information, videos, and news about a musical artist.
Taylor Swift, Matthew McConaughey, and Jimmy Kimmel have done the same
Richie is not the first to pursue this path. Taylor Swift applied in April to register her voice saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” along with her likeness, listing TAS Rights Management, LLC as the owner. Matthew McConaughey has sought protection for audio of him saying “Alright, alright, alright,” and Jimmy Kimmel has filed similar applications this year, according to Gerben IP.
In the US, name, likeness, and voice have traditionally been protected by right-of-publicity laws, which vary from state to state and carry limitations. Lawmakers have tried to address that gap with the federal NO FAKES Act, which would establish an intellectual property right in a person’s voice and likeness for the first time. The bill was reintroduced in Congress on May 20, after failing to advance out of committee on two prior occasions.
What to watch next: whether the USPTO accepts Richie’s filings as trademarks rather than famous lyrics, and whether these applications become a test case for how trademark law adapts to the AI era.
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