Performer Sues Taylor Swift Over Album Title Trademark

A Las Vegas performer has filed a federal lawsuit against Taylor Swift, accusing the pop superstar of trademark infringement over the title of her latest album, "The Life of a Showgirl." The complaint, lodged on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, names Swift, her management company TAS Rights Management, record label UMG Recordings, and merchandise firm Bravado as defendants. Maren Wade, who performs under the stage name Maren Flagg, claims Swift's use of the phrase has confused consumers and diluted her established brand, "Confessions of a Showgirl," which she has developed since 2014.

Wade's career as a showgirl inspired the branding at the center of the dispute. In 2014, the same year she appeared on "America's Got Talent," Wade began writing a column for the Las Vegas Weekly titled "Confessions of a Showgirl." The series offered candid reflections on the highs and lows of life in the entertainment industry, including humorous anecdotes about mishaps like getting stuck in a giant birthday cake or impersonating a Madonna impersonator. She expanded the concept into a live touring production and podcast, securing a federal trademark for...