Taylor Swift'slawyers are pushing back against aLas Vegas performer's attemptto block the singer's use of "The Life of a Showgirl," arguing in court filings that the trademark fight "should never have been filed."
In a May 6 opposition filed in California federal court, attorneys for Swift, TAS Rights Management, UMG Recordings and Bravado International asked a judge to denyMaren Flagg's motion for a preliminary injunctionagainst the defendants. Flagg, who performs under the stage nameMaren Wade, sued Swift in March, alleging the singer's"The Life of a Showgirl"infringes on her registered "Confessions of a Showgirl"trademark.
A hearing on the injunction request is set for May 27.
"This Motion, just like Maren Flagg's lawsuit, should never have been filed," Swift's lawyers wrote in the filing. "It is simply Ms. Flagg's latest attempt to useTaylor Swift's name and intellectual property to prop up her brand, and it fails every single step of the preliminary injunction inquiry."
In a statement to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, Flagg's lawyer said, "We read [the filings]. Defendants assert First Amendment protection for napkins and hairbrushes. We look forward to filing our response next week."
The performer sued Swift and her companies in March, alleging "The Life of a Showgirl" infringes on her federally registered "Confessions of a Showgirl" trademark, which she has used for her Las Vegas-based cabaret brand, performances and related entertainment projects.
In the lawsuit, Flagg argued Swift's use of the phrase could create consumer confusion and damage the value of her existing brand. She is seeking injunctive relief, damages, profits and attorneys' fees.
Taylor Swift's lawyers say Las Vegas performer used popstar's 'Showgirl' album in advertising
Flagg has asked the court to prohibit Swift and her companies from using "The Life of a Showgirl" while the case makes its way through court. Meanwhile, Swift's lawyers argue Flagg cannot meet the legal standard for emergency relief, including showing that she is likely to succeed on the merits or suffer irreparable harm.
The filing says Flagg owns the"Confessions of a Showgirl"trademark covering blogs, theatrical productions and television programs. But Swift's lawyers challenged Flagg's use of the trademark, writing that "the reality is very different" from how Flagg describes her business.
They say the last blog post on Flagg's website is dated March 10, 2021, her hardcover book is listed as "out of stock," her e-book link says "This product couldn't be found" and her website lists no upcoming performances.
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The filing also argues Flagg's performances are not comparable to Swift's album or brand. Swift's attorneys describe Flagg's shows as taking place in "small intimate venues," including a "55+ active community," a "55+ golf resort," an "RV & Golf Resort" and a "90 seat cabaret-style venue."
At the center of Swift's team's argument is that Flagg tried to associate herself with the album before filing suit. The opposition says that after "The Life of a Showgirl"was announced in August 2025, Flagg "flooded her Instagram and TikTok pages with 40+ advertisements for her brand using Ms. Swift's music, trademarks, and other intellectual property without permission."
"Each of these advertisements constitutes actionable infringement, and TASRM will be pursuing appropriate remedies for that intentional, commercial misuse," the filing says.
In more than 90 exhibits of evidence, Swift's attorney Max Wellman outlined dozens of social media posts by Flagg that allegedly referenced the singer, her album, her fan base or album-related hashtags.
The declaration also says oneOct. 4 TikTokpost used "The Life Of A Showgirl" in "the identical style, font, color, and placement as depicted on the album cover" and used Swift's song "The Life of a Showgirl."
Swift's lawyers say a preliminary injunction would harm the singer's business by forcing the removal of the album and related products from the marketplace, causing "tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue" and harming fans, retailers, streaming platforms, co-writers, producers and others tied to the album.
Upon filing the March 30 lawsuit, Flagg's legal team told USA TODAY in a statement that "Maren spent more than a decade building CONFESSIONS OF A SHOWGIRL. She registered it. She earned it."
"When Taylor Swift's team applied to register THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL, the Trademark Office refused, finding Swift's mark confusingly similar," the statement alleged. "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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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Taylor Swift lawyers slam 'Showgirl' trademark lawsuit
