Lionel Richie Moves to Trademark His Voice in Four Applications

Photo Credit: Raph_PH

Is the era of voice trademarks upon us? It seems that way, as Lionel Richie has become the latest entertainment professional to file related applications amid AI’s rapid expansion.

Specifically, Tuskegee-born Richie moved to obtain four trademarks yesterday – joining the likes of Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey, both of whom have sought voice and likeness trademarks as of late.

According to the filings, Richie is specifically seeking sound marks for snippets of his famed song lyrics: “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?”; “Say you, say me”; “Easy like Sunday morning”; and “All night long.”

Unsurprisingly, all the applications mention “a man saying” the lyrics in connection with, among other things, “entertainment information services,” stage performances, interviews, and related websites.

These specific usages aside, it’s not a secret that the aforesaid AI, which is pumping out all manner of soundalike and lookalike media, played a key part in Richie’s submitting the applications.

But will they receive USPTO approval? If so, how exactly would the four-time Grammy winner look to protect his IP under current trademark law?

Admittedly, we lack definitive answers here. On the former front, Gerben IP pointed to the possibility of Richie and others encountering “significant legal hurdles” with the heretofore little-seen applications.

(A few adjacent questions: As these applications are seeking to protect actual voices, what happens when similar-sounding entertainers come along? Is this a first come, first served situation that will leave future generations out of luck? And what of existing voice overlap among public figures generally?)

Nevertheless, McConaughey has already secured several trademarks; his “Hey, hey, hey” application was filed back in 2023. Furthermore, despite the enforceability questions, it’s always possible that voice and likeness trademarks will prove useful in courtroom confrontations down the line.

That ties back to another unknown: How the “NIL” focus will evolve in the approaching years. Between the AI and music-investment explosions, it seems safe to say that there’s never been a bigger emphasis on the rights.

Time will tell how this – and the corresponding trademark process – evolves in the coming years. There’s also the chance that Congress will update voice and likeness law for the AI era; a modified version of the No Fakes Act, the prior iteration of which sputtered out in committee, was introduced last month.