Legal

Taylor Swift is making sure A.I. doesn't turn her into its next puppet ... because, according to docs obtained by TMZ, she's quietly locked down some very specific trademarks aimed at making sure any digital copycats of her voice and image are "CANCELLED!"

According to new trademark filings submitted last Friday, Taylor is seeking federal protection for two phrases tied directly to her voice: "Hey, it's Taylor Swift" and "Hey, it's Taylor." The filings fall under the rare "sound mark" category -- the same trademark lane used for recognizable audio cues ... like Netflix's "tu-dum" and NBC's iconic chimes.

Taylor's legal team appears to be on their "Vigilante S***" preparing for the growing wave of A.I.-generated songs, videos, and deepfakes that mimic celebrities without permission. By trademarking phrases tied to her voice, Taylor could have a stronger argument if someone uses A.I. to create content that sounds too much like her.

Justice has been a long time coming in the murder of Run-DMC legend Jason Mizell -- AKA Jam Master Jay -- because another man has admitted his role in the hip-hop icon's killing nearly 24 years after the shocking crime.

Monday, federal prosecutors announced Jay Bryant pleaded guilty in a federal court in Brooklyn to his role in Jam Master Jay's 2002 murder ... after prosecutors alleged he helped the killers get inside the legendary DJ's Queens recording studio before the fatal shooting.

"More than two decades after the cold-blooded, execution-style killing of Mr. Mizell, an exhaustive investigation revealed Bryant's role and today he finally admitted his guilt," U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said. "The prosecutors in our Office and our law enforcement partners never give up, no matter how long it takes, in the pursuit of justice for the victim and the victim's family."

Michael Madsen is getting dragged to court even in death ... Los Angeles County says the late actor owes his ex-wife a ton of money.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department claims Michael owes his ex-wife Jeannine Bisignano over $1.2 million in back child-support payments.

The department says the $1,267,573.49 in back child support stems from Michael and Jeannine's divorce judgment, which dates all the way back to March 1995 ... and it looks like Jeannine is entitled to a percentage of payments Michael received in his SAG pension plan.

Sophia Hutchins' estate and Caitlyn Jenner are requesting access to the late manager's Apple account nearly a year after her shocking death.

The estate filed documents Friday requesting a judge grant an order authorizing their access to her Apple ID ... explaining the estate has fallen behind on its financial obligations and more because its inability to access the account has held up the process.

The estate -- led by Sophia's mom, Amy -- says it went to Apple after Sophia died, requesting access ... but Apple responded by asking for a court order.

One of Anthony Edwards' baby mamas is helping his other baby mama out in court, TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Ayesha Howard -- who has a daughter named Aubri, born in 2024 -- submitted new evidence in her legal battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves star.

Ayesha obtained a declaration from Anthony's other baby mama, Alexandria Desroches -- who has a son named Amir with Anthony -- that she is using.

"The Challenge" star CT Tamburello's ex-wife, Lilianet Solares, is dragging him back to court for allegedly failing to follow the court's order in their final divorce judgment ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Lilianet claims that CT has not provided health insurance for their son, Christopher Solares.

CT and Lilianet finalized their divorce in November 2023 ... and the reality star was ordered to pay $761 per month in child support, plus $332 for each week that he cannot exercise parenting time due to work.

Stefon Diggs' male sexual assault accuser, Christopher Blake Griffith, is asking a judge to force the NFL star to turn over his security footage from the night in question ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Christopher claims Stefon has failed to hand over information related to his finances, security footage, and various other items that he claims he's entitled to get in connection with the case.

Specifically, Christopher asked that Stefon turn over information and materials concerning security systems, surveillance footage, and access logs for the athlete's home in Maryland between May 20, 2023 to May 22, 2023.

Christopher claims Stefon said he would look into the matter but has yet to update him. He claims Stefon was aware Christopher filed a police report and says if security footage from the day in question was not saved, it could raise "serious questions of spoliation."

Mariah Carey is firing back at her estranged brother, Morgan Carey, who claims that the pop star is refusing to appear for a deposition, TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the legendary singer's legal team denied Morgan's claims that Mariah has missed several discovery deadlines for turning over docs, and for her to be deposed. 

Mariah said her brother's motion is a "misguided attempt to gain perceived tactical leverage in this action by threatening" her with an imminent deposition.

The singer said her brother's "repeated filing of meritless motions" is one of the causes for the delay in the case. 

The parents of Anna Kepner's stepbrother T.H., accused of murdering her on a cruise ship, are now fighting over child support for him ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, T.H.'s dad, Thomas Hudson, is making moves to pay less monthly child support to T.H.'s mom, Shauntel Hudson.

Thomas said Shauntel kicked T.H. out of her home, saying the child was not welcome in the home due to him being accused of Anna's murder. Thomas claims that because T.H. no longer resided with Shauntel, his child support obligations should be reduced for the amounts allocated to him.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner scored a legal victory in their battle against Ray J ... because his countersuit over their sex tape settlement will now play out in private arbitration, not a public courtroom.

A judge ruled Friday that Ray J's countersuit against the famous mother and daughter -- claiming they've violated a settlement agreement by continuing to bring up Kim's sex tape with Ray J on "The Kardashians" -- belongs in private arbitration.

The judge agreed with Kim and Kris that the parties signed a contract to take disputes over that agreement ... and so that's where they'll handle this disagreement.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Kenya Moore is packing up her hair salon and moving out after issues with her landlord, TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained photos of the salon's furniture on the street outside the location.

Kenya tells TMZ ... "I have spent the last several weeks moving out of my salon as a result of my ongoing legal battle with the landlord who has failed to reimburse me nearly $80K of improvement funds I am rightfully owed. My only recourse was to withhold rent and file a countersuit. I already have my outfit laid out for court chile!"

She goes on to thank all of her clients, and promises the beginning of a new era ... stay tuned!

FBI Director Kash Patel is suing over claims he's been drunk on the job ... but he reportedly admitted in the past to twice being arrested for alcohol-related offenses around 2 decades ago.

When Patel worked for the Miami-Dade County Public Defender's Office back in the day, he wrote a letter elaborating on a couple disclosures from his Florida Bar application, which related to his past arrests ... and The Intercept obtained a copy.

Patel wrote he was arrested for public intoxication in February 2001 when he was a junior at the University of Richmond. He said he was under 21 years of age at the time and had two drinks before getting booted from the crowd at a Richmond basketball game for "excessive" cheering. He said he paid a fine.

Cher's latest attempt to put her son Elijah Blue Allman under a temporary conservatorship just hit a wall ... a judge shut down the request -- with Elijah in attendance, calling in from a psychiatric hospital.

A Los Angeles judge denied Cher's request Friday without prejudice -- meaning she can try again -- saying there wasn't "sufficient urgency" to justify appointing someone to control Elijah's estate.

Elijah appeared by video from the facility, where the court said he's currently being held in an effort to restore competency as he faces criminal charges in New Hampshire.

Cher's troubled son Elijah Blue Allman will be checking into a residential treatment facility -- following his recent arrests -- as he fights his legendary mom over a proposed conservatorship, TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Elijah hired a new legal team that's fighting his estranged wife Marieangela King's efforts to seize part of his inheritance from his late father, Gregg Allman. Marieangela believes she deserves temporary support amid their divorce.

In the filing, Elijah's team says he is currently locked up in a New Hampshire psychiatric hospital, awaiting a hearing on his competency to face criminal charges of burglary, criminal mischief, and breach of bail.

The actress who portrayed D4vd’s girlfriend in one of his music videos is distancing herself from the singer ... amid growing online comparisons to Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

In a TikTok video, the actress Cassidy Clarke said she met D4vd -- legal name David Anthony Burke -- when he was 17, and even spent time around his family while filming his music video "Here with Me," released about 3 years ago.

She explained after landing the role as his onscreen girlfriend, the two followed each other on social media after a day on set ... however, she makes it clear their relationship never extended beyond that project.

Cassidy adds she plans to remove him from her social media and is officially cutting ties, while acknowledging the wave of comments she's received online -- adding he deserves "even more than what's happening to him right now" and strongly states "he's a monster."

Drew Sidora claims she paid her estranged husband, Ralph Pittman, half of her 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' checks during their marriage ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained alleged texts between Drew and Ralph that were submitted as evidence in their ongoing divorce battle.

As TMZ first reported, the judge presiding over the case ordered Drew to vacate the home by next month. Drew claims she will be homeless and does not have the funds to find another home at this time. She is begging the court to reconsider.

As part of her plea, Drew included texts that she believes help make her case. One alleged text, dated April 13, 2026, Drew wrote to her ex, "I most definitely cannot afford 9K of household expenses at this time."