Taylor Swift’s Lawyer to Judge: ‘Life of a Showgirl’ Branding Is Protected by First Amendment

Swift’s longtime attorney appeared in Los Angeles court on Wednesday (May 27) to fight a lawsuit over the title of her record-smashing latest album. Taylor Swift attends the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 26, 2026 in Hollywood, California. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Trending on Billboard Taylor Swift’s longtime lawyer argued in court on Wednesday (May 27) that the First Amendment protects The Life of a Showgirl from trademark claims. Douglas Baldridge appeared in Los Angeles federal court to oppose Las Vegas performer Maren Wade’s injunction bid. Wade, who puts on a cabaret show called “Confessions of a Showgirl,” alleges Swift’s latest No. 1 album infringes her intellectual property and wants to block The Life of a Showgirl merch sales until the litigation is fully resolved. Related Judge Serena R. Murillo opened up the hearing by suggesting that her “real concern” in this case is whether The Life of a Showgirl should be shielded from trademark litigation because the album is a piece of art — that is, a so-called expressive work under First Amendment case law. Wade’s attorney, Jaymie Parkkinen, argued on Wednesday that the answer is no because Swift uses the album title not just for
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