Meryl Streep has filed an application to trademark her name, which if approved would mean no one else can use it to advertise autograph signings and personal appearances including on TV shows, movies, and live appearances.
The New York Daily News got the documents Streep filed for the trademark, which list 1975 as the date Streep’s name was first used in entertainment. Streep graduated from Yale that year and was cast in a New York show with Mandy Patinkin and John Lithgow.
While Streep did not comment on her reasons for wanting the trademark, Legal Zoom said that many celebrities do copyright their names in order to prevent others from using the internet domain that corresponds to their name for an unrelated or unofficial site.
It is difficult to pursue court action against those using your name without a trademark.
One Twitter user said it might have something to do with songs on popular music apps that claim to be sung by the famous actress but actually aren't.
Others just professed not to care too much about what Streep did.
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