Taylor Swift is demanded by plagiarism: what other celebrities are mentioned in the complaint

Taylor Swift was sued by alleged copyright in a federal court of the state of Florida. Legal action was filed by Kimberly Marascoan artist based in that state, who argues that the singer used fragments of her literary work in multiple songs without authorization or recognition.

The demand also includes as co-demands to producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessneras well as companies Universal Music Group, Inc. and Republic Recordsfor their participation in the creation, production and distribution of the materials that, according to the plaintiff, contain elements taken from their original texts.

The federal judge Aileen Cannon is in charge of the case. According to records cited by Newsweek On April 10, 2025, Cannon ordered the defendants to refrain from responding formally until everyone has been officially notified. Until now, alone Taylor Swift It has not been formally notified.

This is the second time that Marasco files a lawsuit against the artist. In 2024, he filed a similar case in which Swift was withdrawn as a defendant, although the process against Taylor Swift Productions, Inc. It is still active.

Demand refers to songs belonging to albums LOVER, Folklore, Midnights and The tortured poets department. Among the issues indicated as allegedly offenders are “Illicit affairs”, “HOAX”, “Death by a thousand cuts”, “Down Bad”, “Mastermind” and “Midnight Rain”.

The plaintiff states that these songs contain lyrical fragments, narrative structures and metaphors similar to those that she included in poems of her authorship. Some of these poems, according to Marasco, were published on social networks and other platforms before launching the mentioned musical themes.

The presence of Antonoff and Dessner as co-demanded responds to his active role in the composition and production of several of the songs included in the complaint. Marasco argues that the elements used in the songs were not the result of coincidence, but of access and appropriation of his previous work.

The judicial file mentions other public figures such as Beyoncé, Chaka Khan, Elton John, Brad Paisley, Lady Gaga, Elon Musk and Kim Kardashianalthough none of these people are legally involved in the process.

The references respond to comparisons used by both the plaintiff and by the defense lawyers. In the case of the poem “Ordinary Citizen”Marasco argues that it was compared to the song “If i were a boy” of Beyoncé as an attempt to refute his originality. Marasco rejects that analogy, arguing that his work and the song address different situations and use different resources.

Similar situations are described regarding the songs “A Woman in a man’s world” by Chaka Khan, “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John and “Perfect Storm” of Brad Paisley. In each case, Marasco alleges that the works cited do not share the same expressions or context as their poems, and that the attempts of the defense to establish parallels are inappropriate.

Elon Musk is mentioned in demand through the poem “Elon = Mc²”published by Marasco on the social network X. In this text, the author makes an analogy between Musk and a mathematical formula to represent her intellect.

Marasco indicates that the song “Mastermind” Swift contains the phrase “To Assess The Equation of You”which, in his opinion, keeps a conceptual similarity with his poem. He maintains that this coincidence is an indication that his work was consulted or known by those responsible for the composition.

Musk has no direct participation in the judicial process, and his mention is limited to this observation about language and symbolism.

Lady Gaga It appears in an annex of the demand, where it is indicated that a possessed by the singer in a promotional image is very similar to an illustration used by Marasco on the cover of one of his books. The plaintiff argues that this coincidence is another sign that her work circulated or was observed in the environment of the music industry.

In connection with Kim Kardashianhis name is linked to the song “Thank You Aimee”because the combination of capital letters in the title has been interpreted by followers as a reference to the initials “Kim”. Marasco refutes that interpretation by citing a line of the song that states that only two people know the real identity of the person to whom it is addressed.

Kardashian is not part of the litigation and his name appears only in a complementary document that is part of the legal file.

The case is still in preliminary phase. The judge Aileen Cannon It has postponed any procedural response by the defendants until everyone has been legally notified. The pending notification to Taylor Swift prevents the immediate progress of the procedural calendar.

Marasco request one financial compensation and the formal recognition of your authorship In the materials they affirm were used without their permission. The file raises multiple examples that, according to the plaintiff, reinforce the existence of an unauthorized appropriation of his literary work.