Matthew McConaughey has applied to trademark his famous saying “alright, alright, alright” in a battle against artificial intelligence.deepfakes.
The 56-year-old performer has recently obtained eight trademarks to safeguard his image from improper use by artificial intelligence, including his voice, his grin, and the well-known expression, which he first improvisedin Richard Linklater’s 1993 humorous filmDazed and Confused.
“The trademark includes a man saying ‘ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT,’ where the first syllable of the first two words is at a lower pitch than the second syllable, and the first syllable of the final word is at a higher pitch than the second syllable,” the trademark registration noted, according toVariety.
Lawyers from the entertainment law firm Yorn Levine, who are handling McConaughey’s case, submitted a request for protection in December 2023, although the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the trademark in December 2025.
Eight trademarks approved in recent months featured various audio segments, including a snippet of the Oscar winner stating, “Just keep living, right? I mean, what are we going to do?” Additional trademarks consisted of a three-second clip showing him in front of a Christmas tree and a seven-second video of him standing on a porch.
While state consumer protection lawsalready safeguard celebrities from having their image used to promote products, McConaughey’s trademark approach means thatInterstellarAn actor will now be able to file a lawsuit in federal court regarding general “misuse” on the internet, even if misleading AI videos using his likeness are not directly promoting anything.
Yorn Levine, the founder and attorney Kevin Yorn, stated in a message shared withThe Independent: “We welcome artificial intelligence, fund its development, and strongly back its advancement. Nevertheless, progress must come with limits. Safeguarding personal expression, appearance, and intellectual property is crucial for creating a future that benefits all. Together with Matthew, we look ahead, explore the potential of AI, and consider how every individual’s creative identity is portrayed and protected.
McConaughey told the Wall Street JournalMy team and I want to ensure that whenever my voice or image is utilized, it’s only after I have given my approval and signed off on it. We aim to establish a distinct boundary regarding ownership, making consent and proper credit standard practice in the realm of AI.
The performer had previously approved the use of AI to replicate his voice for the benefit of his newsletter,Lyrics of Livin’. In November, he collaborated with AI audio firm ElevenLabsto develop a synthetic representation of his voice to deliver a Spanish-language audio edition of his weekly newsletter.
Celebrities such as McConaughey are not the only ones striving to prevent the abuse of AI. With AI tools like Elon Musk’s internal system,Grok is being utilized to generate explicit adult contentwithout individuals’ permission, politicians, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, areworking to pass legislation to ban the deepfakes.
The Independent is the world’s most forward-thinking media brand, offering international news, opinions, and insights for those who think for themselves. We have built a large, worldwide audience of independent thinkers who appreciate our reliable voice and dedication to progress. Our goal, driving change, has never been more crucial than it is now.