The Backstreet Boys have applied for a federal sound mark covering their spoken group introduction, a move designed to fortify legal protections against unauthorized AI-generated vocal imitations.
The application, submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on June 24, seeks to register the phrase “Hi, we’re the Backstreet Boys” as a source-identifying sound. If granted, the mark would give the group additional leverage to challenge deepfake recordings that mimic their voices without consent.
Artists turn to trademark law
The filing places the Backstreet Boys alongside a growing number of major acts exploring intellectual property tools to combat voice cloning. Taylor Swift has pursued sound marks for spoken phrases including “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Taylor Swift,” while Lionel Richie has sought protection for sung snippets of lyrics such as “Hello, is it me you’re looking for,” “Say you, say me,” and “All night long.”
These applications reflect a broader music industry response to generative AI tools that can produce convincing fake vocals. By securing a trademark, rightsholders can potentially bring infringement claims without relying solely on copyright or right-of-publicity arguments, which vary by jurisdiction.
Untested legal ground
Legal observers caution that the strategy remains unproven. Using a single spoken phrase as a trademark to block soundalike performances, rather than to prevent consumer confusion about the source of goods, has not yet been examined in court. The scope of any eventual enforcement is therefore uncertain.
The USPTO will review the Backstreet Boys’ application to determine whether the sound mark functions as a distinctive identifier of the group’s services. No timeline for a decision has been announced.
