In a move favored by fellow American royals like Blue Ivy Carter and Taylor Swift, Meryl Streep has filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, per a report from TMZ. Big Little Lies’ newest addition reportedly asked for complete monopoly of her name when it comes to “live, televised, and movie appearances by a professional actress and entertainer.”
In her trademark application, Streep noted that her name has been associated with the entertainment world since 1975, when she was cast as “Stage 6 (voice) in a production of Everybody Rides the Carousel, the same year she graduated from Yale Drama School. That is 43 years of Meryl Streep, people!
When you think about how long Streep has been a household name, it’s kind of a wonder that she didn’t do this sooner. Plenty of celebrities have taken the step to trademark their names or various associated catchphrases. After Jay-Z and Beyoncé had Blue Ivy in 2012, they filed to trademark her name so that no one else could use it for child or baby products, but they lost the bid. Had they won, people could name their kids Blue Ivy (do you really want to saddle your kid with that kind of pressure?), but baby-product companies would not have been able to use the name. In Streep’s case, this trademark appears to keep anyone from using her name to advertise or sell anything entertainment-related using her name. Vanity Fair has reached out to a representative for Streep for information on the specifics of the trademark.
Thus far, Streep doesn’t seem to be venturing into catchphrases the same way as, say, Taylor Swift, who has filed trademark applications for everything from her song lyrics to the term “Swiftmas.” In 2007, Paris Hilton filed a lawsuit against Hallmark for using her Simple Life phrase “that’s hot” on a greeting card. She won the case in 2009, after it went all the way up to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Tim Tebow officially trademarked “Tebowing” in 2012.
But Meryl Streep’s special trademark is, well, being Meryl Streep. She doesn’t need a catchphrase or a signature move, unless you count being synonymous with Oscar season as a special superpower. Her signature move is being Meryl Streep, winner of three Oscars, orator of anti-Trump speeches, and the woman who can make Billy Eichner, Kelly Clarkson, and Melissa McCarthy have near emotional breakdowns upon seeing her. It’s been her trademark for decades—and now it’s going to be even more official.
