Actor Matthew McConaughey is not waiting for the legal structure surrounding intellectual property to align with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, according to theWall Street Journal.
Due to their widespread presence in everyday activities, it’s simple to overlook the fact that current generative AI technologies have only existed for afew years; ChatGPT was launched inNovember 2022.
In the same way, it’s remarkable how quickly this new technology has shaken up fundamental parts of everyday life. AI has caused disorderin schoolsand made an already challenging situation worsejob market, but few sectors have been as severely impacted by its rise as the creative industries.
Writers, artists, filmmakers, and actors have raised concerns about AI since its inception, beginning with the claimed use ofcopyrighted materialsto “train” systems like large language models, or LLMs.
Director Guillermo del Toroclearly stated he would “rather die” than incorporate AI into the film production, and actorMorgan Freemanvoiced irritation over AI imitations of his unique, legendary voice.
“I’m a bit upset, you know… I get paid for doing things like that, so if you’re going to do it without me, you’re stealing from me,” he complained during a November interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Freeman’s stance was highly logical, as his voice and image are permanently linked to his earnings — and that doesn’t even begin to address the restrapidly escalating problem of deepfakes.
In 2019, the American Bar Associationcautioned that the risk posed by deepfakes, frequently utilized for fraud or to disseminate false information, was “more alarming than Photoshop with enhanced capabilities.” In general,AI regulationis also in its early stages, leaving artists with little legal guidance for action.
Similar to Freeman, McConaughey possesses one of the most unique and frequently copied voices in Hollywood. Specifically, his famous line from the 1993 movie Dazed and Confused — “alright, alright, alright”— was often remixed and utilized prior to the rise of AI.
Freeman hinted at employing his legal team to handle AI replicas, and as reported by the Journal, McConaughey took “an innovative legal strategy” in this area: trademarking his own name.
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In the past few months, McConaughey has obtained at least eight approved applications from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including “alright, alright, alright.”
In a message sent to the media outlet, he stated that he and his representatives wished for the public to be assured that the actor “approved and gave final approval for” any utilization of his voice or image.
“We aim to establish a distinct boundary regarding ownership, with consent and credit becoming standard in the realm of AI,” McConaughey stated. Attorney Kevin Yorn, who represents McConaughey along with other top-tier actors, expressed optimism that this strategy could safeguard his client.
“I’m uncertain what the court’s final decision will be. However, we must at least put this to the test,” Yorn stated.
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Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his own image, including his famous catchphrase, in response to worries about the increasing use of deepfakes: “We have to at least test this” first appeared on The Cool Down.