Maren Wade, a Las Vegas performer, is suing Taylor Swift for trademark infringement. Wade claims that “The Life of a Showgirl” album and its merch are too similar to the brand that she’s cultivated over the last 12 years.
In 2014, Wade used “Confessions of a Showgirl” as the name of a column in Las Vegas Weekly. That column became a live show, then grew into a touring production, and ultimately turned into an entire brand that includes a book compiling all of her most popular stories.
Wade trademarked “Confessions of a Showgirl” in 2015, and is accusing Swift of using a similar title to target the same fans in the same market. She’s worried Swift’s large commercial presence is hurting her and that fans will start to mistake her brand as an imitation of the singer’s brand.
Jaymie Parkinnen, a lawyer for Wade, issued a statement that said, “A solo performer who spent twelve years building a brand shouldn’t have to watch it disappear because someone bigger came along.”
Wade is suing Swift for damages and wants to stop her from using “The Life of a Showgirl” on goods and services in the future. According to TMZ, in the court documents, “Wade takes a shot at Taylor, too, saying the pop star has no issues enforcing her own trademarks.”
Although Wade has filed a lawsuit against Swift, she appears to be a fan of the singer. Multiple posts on her Instagram page use Swift’s songs and hashtags in between posts promoting her show, which is also titled ‘Confessions of a Showgirl.’
Her official website advertises the show as a “funny touching tale of this unique life.” It also says: “Based on the hit Las Vegas Weekly column, ‘Confessions of a Showgirl’ is jumping off the page to the stage! Starring Maren Wade from NBC’s America’s Got Talent, this cabaret brings to life the quirky, hilarious and unfiltered account of a modern-day showgirl, onstage and off. This showgirl confesses to what it was like working with Wayne Newton, getting stuck in a birthday cake, meeting Mariah Carey, impersonating a Madonna impersonator and much more. “