Matthew McConaughey trademarks himself to fight unauthorized AI use of his voice and likeness

Matthew McConaughey fights unauthorized AI likenesses by trademarking himself

Matthew McConaughey filed trademark applications to prevent his likeness from being used by AI companies without permission, and the US Patent and Trademark Office has approved eight so far. According to the Wall Street Journal, the trademarks were for video and audio clips featuring the actor staring, smiling and talking. One was for a video of him standing on a porch, while another was for an audio recording of him saying "alright, alright, alright," his signature catchphrase from the movie Dazed and Confused. Under the law, it's already prohibited for companies to steal someone's likeness to sell products. However, McConaughey is taking a proactive approach due to the nebulous rules around the use of someone's likeness for artificial intelligence and what's considered commercial use involving the technology. His lawyer, Kevin Yorn, admits that they don't know how the court would decide if an offender challenges the trademarks. But they're hoping that the threat of a lawsuit would deter companies from using McConaughey's likeness for AI in the first place. Actors have been trying to protect themselves from AI since the technology blew up, and it was one of the sticking points in the negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios when the labor union went on a strike in 2023. McConaughey isn't anti-AI by any means: He is an investor in ElevenLabs and has partnered with the AI startup to create a Spanish version of his newsletter. He said in a statement sent to The Journal that he just wants to make sure that if his voice or likeness is ever used, it's because he approved and signed off on it. "We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world," he added.

Matthew McConaughey tries a new approach to fighting AI misuse: trademarking himself

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? Matthew McConaughey is one of many stars who oppose unauthorized AI recreations of their likenesses. In an attempt to combat the practice, the Interstellar actor has taken the unusual step of trademarking himself. The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted eight of these trademarks, including one of him saying his famous catchphrase, "Alright, alright, alright." The trademarks, granted over the last few months, also include a seven-second clip of McConaughey standing on a porch and a three-second clip of him sitting in front of a Christmas tree, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. "My team and I want to know that when my voice or likeness is ever used, it's because I approved and signed off on it," the actor said in an email to the publication. "We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world." The Journal adds that while Conaughey's lawyers aren't aware of his likeness being manipulated by AI, they hope the trademarks can be used broadly against any unauthorized duplications of him. The lawyers added that they aren't aware of any other actors who have trademarked themselves. They also admit that they aren't sure if the plan will work, and how a legal fight against one of McConaughey's claims would pan out. "I don't know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this," said McConaughey lawyer Kevin Yorn. McConaughey is far from against generative AI - he just wants to prevent unauthorized use of his likeness. In November, he joined legend Michael Caine in a partnership with AI audio company ElevenLabs to produce virtual replications of their voices. McConaughey has also invested an undisclosed sum in ElevenLabs, and has collaborated with the New York-based startup since its founding in 2022. The company creates a version of his newsletter "Lyrics of Livin'" in Spanish. The move comes amid growing anxiety in Hollywood over how generative AI can replicate voices, faces, and performances with little effort or cost. During last year's SAG-AFTRA strike, protections against digital replicas became a central issue, with actors warning that studios and third parties could exploit their likenesses indefinitely without proper compensation or consent. Traditionally, celebrities have relied on right-of-publicity laws to challenge misuse of their image, but those protections vary widely by state and are still largely untested in AI-specific cases. Trademarking distinctive phrases, images, or clips could offer an additional legal tool, even if it doesn't fully resolve the issue. Whether McConaughey's strategy sets a precedent remains to be seen. But as AI-generated media becomes more sophisticated and accessible, more high-profile figures may feel compelled to explore unconventional ways to protect their identities before the technology outpaces the law.

'Alright, alright, alright': Matthew McConaughey just trademarked himself to fight AI misuse

With AI voice cloning on the rise, McConaughey's move highlights how hard it's becoming to control your digital identity As AI-generated voices and deepfake videos flood the internet, Matthew McConaughey is taking an unusual -- and potentially precedent-setting -- step to protect his identity. First reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Oscar-winning actor has trademarked key elements of his persona, including his voice, likeness and short video clips of himself speaking, in an effort to stop unauthorized AI impersonations before they happen. It's a move that highlights how unprepared current laws are for the generative AI era -- and why celebrities, creators and everyday users may soon need new tools to protect their digital identities. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, McConaughey has secured eight trademarks approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. These trademarks cover: The idea isn't to stop parody or commentary. Instead, McConaughey's legal team plans to use trademark law as a federal enforcement tool against AI-generated content that uses his likeness or voice without permission. So far, there doesn't seem to be any public evidence of McConaughey being targeted by a viral deepfake. This is a pre-emptive move, designed to draw clear legal boundaries before AI misuse becomes a problem. Most AI impersonation cases today fall under right-of-publicity laws, which vary by state and are often slow, expensive and difficult to enforce online. Trademark law, by contrast, offers a few advantages: By treating his identity as a brand asset, McConaughey is effectively saying: If AI tools can commercialize me, I can legally protect myself like a product. How effective this approach will be in court remains to be seen, particularly as it applies to generative AI. If it works, though, it could point to a new way for public figures -- and even influencers -- to protect their digital identities. McConaughey has actually partnered with AI voice startup ElevenLabs -- where he's also an investor -- to produce authorized synthetic Spanish versions of his newsletter. That distinction is key: the issue isn't AI generation itself, but who controls it. This mirrors a growing trend across Hollywood and the tech world. Actors like Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson have publicly warned about AI impersonation, while record labels and studios are pushing for clearer consent rules around training data and voice cloning. In other words, McConaughey's move isn't about shutting down AI. He just wants to remain in control of licensing and attribution. Even if you're not a celebrity, this story has real implications. AI voice cloning tools are becoming easier to access, cheaper to use and harder to detect. That raises serious questions about: McConaughey's approach suggests that identity protection may shift from reactive takedowns to proactive ownership -- especially as AI tools continue to blur the line between real and synthetic content. Lawmakers are still debating broader protections, including proposals like the No Fakes Act, which would give individuals stronger rights against unauthorized digital replicas. But progress has been slow. Until then, celebrities experimenting with trademark law may shape how courts interpret AI misuse -- and how platforms design future safeguards. Whether McConaughey's strategy becomes a legal standard or a one-off experiment remains to be seen. As AI tools grow more powerful, what McConaughey is doing might not stay confined to Hollywood for long.