Taylor Swift is facing fresh legal trouble after Florida-based poet Kimberly Marasco filed a $30 million copyright lawsuit against the pop superstar, claiming that Swift copied her original work in songs and visuals across multiple albums.
Marasco, who previously filed a similar case in 2023 that was dismissed for lack of proper service, has refiled the lawsuit. This time, she’s citing “extreme difficulties” in locating and serving Swift due to the singer’s heightened security and multiple residences.
In court documents filed earlier this week, Marasco alleges that Swift and her production company, Taylor Swift Productions, unlawfully used her poetry in material found on albums such as Lover, Folklore, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department. Marasco is seeking a combined $30 million in damages for what she claims is widespread intellectual property theft.
The lawsuit contends that Swift’s songs and music videos contain “substantial similarities” to Marasco’s previously published poems. However, details about which specific lyrics or visual elements allegedly overlap have not been publicly disclosed in the court filings.
Swift’s legal team has denied the claims and has filed a motion to dismiss the case, calling it meritless. A spokesperson for Swift has not issued an official comment, but legal experts suggest the pop star is likely to mount a strong defense, especially given the lack of detailed evidence in the original filing.
Marasco has asked the court for clarification on how long she has to successfully serve Swift before the new case faces dismissal again. She argues that the process of delivering court documents has been hindered by Swift’s team, which she claims makes access “impossible without court assistance.”
This isn’t the first time Swift has faced copyright allegations. In 2022, she was sued over lyrics in her 2014 hit “Shake It Off,” though that case was eventually dropped.
While Swift has not publicly addressed this most recent lawsuit, she continues to maintain a high profile. Her Eras Tour wrapped up as a global phenomenon, and she has continued to stay under the radar reportedly, whilst being on a break with Travis Kelce.
The case is still in early stages, and unless Marasco can successfully serve Swift soon, it may be dismissed once more.
