Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Voice to Block AI Misuse

Matthew McConaughey is taking control of his digital future, and he's making history while doing it.

The Oscar-winning actor recently secured eight separate trademarks from the US Patent and Trademark Office covering his voice, image, and even his famous "Alright, alright, alright" catchphrase from Dazed and Confused. According to his lawyers, this marks the first time an actor has used trademark law specifically to protect against AI misuse.

"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 56-year-old said in a statement. "We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world."

McConaughey's legal strategy comes as celebrities face a growing wave of AI-generated deepfakes. Taylor Swift saw sexually explicit AI images of her viewed 47 million times before platform removal last year. Scarlett Johansson condemned deepfake videos featuring her in political messaging she never endorsed.

Zelda Williams, daughter of late actor Robin Williams, has publicly asked fans to stop sending AI-generated videos of her father. "Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad," she wrote, calling the practice disrespectful to his memory.

The entertainment industry is scrambling to respond. Even Elon Musk's X platform recently announced restrictions on its AI tool Grok after a backlash over sexually explicit deepfakes, including images of children.

The Ripple Effect

McConaughey's trademark approach creates a legal path other performers can follow. By using existing intellectual property law rather than waiting for new AI regulations, he's giving artists immediate protection tools. Legal experts say this strategy could reshape how the entertainment industry defends itself against unauthorized digital replicas.

The move also puts AI companies on notice that using celebrity likenesses without permission could trigger trademark infringement lawsuits. That's a much clearer legal threat than current right-of-publicity laws, which vary widely by state.

His trademarks cover specific clips and audio recordings, creating a tangible library of protected material. Other actors are already watching closely to see if this model works as enforcement begins.

McConaughey is betting that clarity and consent can become the standard in an AI-powered world where anyone's voice and face can be replicated.