If you ever launch a product or write a song featuring the phrase "this sick beat", you might be getting a call from Taylor Swift's lawyers, because she's just applied to register it as a trademark.

Getty Images for Moet & Chandon Astrid Stawiarz

As Vox pointed out, Swift has applied for a list of phrases from her 1989 album to be trademarked, mainly related to their use in merchandising. The full list is here, at the Justia US trademark database.

It's a defensive move designed to stop retailers and clothes manufacturers cashing in on her success with knock-off products featuring lyrics and song titles.

So if you want to make a T-shirt with "this sick beat" on it, you could now get a cease-and-desist letter and lawsuit for your trouble.