South Africa, Oct. 8 -- With two global superstars joining forces, the commercial possibilities go far beyond headlines and hashtags. Together, they represent the crossover of two multi-billion-dollar industries - music and sport - where personal brands are as valuable as platinum records or championship trophies.

When the worlds of Swifties and the NFL collide, the stage is set for a powerhouse of intellectual property (IP).

Swift plays offense in the game of IP

Taylor Swift is no rookie when it comes to protecting her IP. From famously re-recording her albums to amassing one of the most formidable trade mark portfolios in the music industry, with over 300 trade marks in the US alone.

Her latest move? Just hours before announcing the...