Lionel Richie seeks trademark for voice phrases to combat AI deepfakes

Legendary American singer Lionel Richie has filed four trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to protect audio recordings of his voice delivering iconic phrases such as “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?”, “Say You, Say Me”, “Easy Like Sunday Morning”, and “All Night Long”. The applications were submitted by RichLion Holdings LLC, an entity associated with Richie, on an “intent-to-use” basis, meaning the phrases are not yet being used commercially as trademarks. Intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP, who first identified the filings, said the move is less about protecting song lyrics and more about establishing new legal mechanisms to safeguard voices in the AI era.

This reflects a growing trend among celebrities to shield their identities from AI-generated deepfakes that can replicate voices, images, and likenesses with high accuracy. Similar efforts have been made by Taylor Swift, who filed for recordings of her voice saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift”, and actor Matthew McConaughey, who sought protection for his line “Alright, alright, alright”. Television host Jimmy Kimmel has also reportedly filed analogous applications this year.

The filings come amid rising concern over AI misuse: in 2023, an AI-generated song imitating Drake and The Weeknd garnered over 250,000 Spotify streams before removal, and Sony Music has requested takedown of more than 135,000 AI‑impersonating tracks. High‑profile cases include a deepfake Tom Hanks advertisement for dental plans and an AI‑generated MrBeast scam offering iPhones for $2 on TikTok. Lawmakers have reintroduced the NO FAKES Act in Congress to create a federal intellectual property right covering a person’s voice and likeness.

If successful, Richie’s applications could become an important test case for how trademark law adapts to AI‑era threats. Should Nigerian artists and entertainers consider similar legal steps to protect their voice and likeness from unauthorized AI replicas, or rely on existing right‑of‑publicity laws and emerging regulations?

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/06/16/lionel-richie-files-to-trademark-voice-over-rising-ai-deepfakes/