In defense of “corporate” Taylor Swift

As a devout Taylor Swift fan, I often feel the need to defend her words and actions against those of non-Swifties. Such was the case when, a few week ago, outrage broke out because she had trademarked some of the lyrics from her latest album 1989 – including Shake It Off’s catchy phrase “This sick beat.”

I read scores of comments online from people who had negative things to say towards “corporate” Taylor Swift. Many people mentioned that no one would actually use her trademarked phrases, and asked why she would bother trademarking them. This was fresh in my mind while I was at the mall a few weeks ago, and saw a product doing just that.

Okay, so maybe the punctuation makes the product exempt from the trademarks. However it is still obvious to me, and to everyone who has heard Shake It Off, that that product is referencing Taylor Swift’s lyrics. And what’s more is that they’re referencing her lyrics without giving her any credit. Nowhere on the packaging, or product, does Taylor’s name appear.

It is true that Taylor is worth millions of dollars, and that the proceeds from these non-authorized retailers wouldn’t really make a difference to her overall income. However, it’s not about the money. It’s about the content. Taylor Swift is an artist, and those words belong to her. She wrote them, she sang them. No one else should be able to take credit for those words.

An equivalent of this scenario in my own life would be if someone stole a phrase from my writing and tried to pass it off as their own. There are a few original quotes I’ve written on my blog, and a few times people have shared them on their own blogs but they have always given me credit for writing the quote. If they didn’t, it would be plagiarism.

In the world of writing, plagiarism is a serious offense. Why is this not the case in the music industry?

I know Taylor Swift has a lot of money, but plagiarism is still serious and harmful – no matter what the inside of your wallet looks like. By not supporting Taylor Swift’s trademarks, people are inadvertently supporting the idea that wealthy people must conform to different rules than average citizens; they are supporting the idea that wealthy people’s creations do not matter and that the normal plagiarism rules should not apply to their works.

One person even went as far to say that Taylor’s trademarking – and subsequent crackdown on Etsy shops selling unauthorized products with her image and lyrics – is “too out of character” for the image she presents, of a kind cat-loving musician who sends her fans gifts and loves to needlepoint.

Yeah, that’s right. Too out of character. As if because of the “good-girl” image she has created for herself, Taylor Swift cannot protect her rights and the rights of her work. As if she should always consider what is best for the image people have of her in their heads before making a decision, instead of considering what is best for her and her music.

Taylor Swift has every right to shut down shops selling unauthorized merchandise. As I’ve already mentioned, I would be outraged if people started selling my writing on products without consulting me. What’s the difference? That Taylor is famous, and people already know the words are hers? Sure. But she’s still not profiting from those sales. And her words are still being used without proper credit and consultation.

Plagiarism is plagiarism, no matter what amount of money and image the person has. No one has the right to plagiarize someone else’s work – and no one has the right to tell Taylor Swift she can’t fight for her right to defend her work. Not on my watch as a loyal Swiftie.

WINTER: Predator and Prey

When this season hits,

We elaborate on ideas that we see fit.

There are deluges of snow that settle upon the cold, blunt ground,

And chunks of hail that crash around.

There are certainly days that make our bodies feel immensely numb,

And days where we feel like we just want to run.

It’s harsh climates can trigger our emotions,

While causing extensive driving commotions.

Winter is not that bad,

It doesn’t always have to make us mad.

It can give us small purposes in life,

Like shoveling snow late at night.

But the snow is melting from Spring’s glow,

Goodbye Winter, were done with the cold.

– Khalil Kain

Drugs Suck

I’ve heard of drugs destroying the great minds of our generation,

Inflicting and encouraging addiction in our nation,

Death and regrets follow along this obscure path,

Which turns us youth into psychopaths.

Killing and antagonizing the faces of our future,

While enduring the destruction of cerebral mankind.

The one they call “crack” is distinct in looks,

Then you have marijuana, methane, and probably coke,

These matters of illegal chemistry and botany have tricked the decisive and mental instincts of the adolescent age.

But the main unfortunate problem is that the persistent flames of these deceiving narcotics can’t seem to burn out.

– Khalil Kain