“Alright, alright, alright:” Matthew McConaughey trademarks himself to stop AI clones

Actor Matthew McConaughey will test the legal limits of artificial intelligence (AI) as he moves to trademark his likeness to prevent unauthorized deepfakes.

The Interstellar star has had eight applications approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office over the past several months, the Wall Street Journal reports.

These include McConaughey staring at a camera, smiling, and saying his famous “Alright, alright, alright” line from the 1993 movie Dazed and Confused.

The Oscar-winning actor told the Wall Street Journal in an email that he only wants his voice and likeness ever used if he agrees to it. He said consent and attribution must become the “norm” when it comes to AI.

While state laws protect trademarks against most commercial uses, the law is “murkier” when it comes to online video platforms where AI-generated content can be monetized with advertisements, according to the paper.

However, McConaughey’s legal team says it has to at least “test” the approach, as no other actor, to its knowledge, has secured broad trademarks for their likeness.

This is an increasingly pressing issue for those in the entertainment industry, with actors like Morgan Freeman speaking out against the misuse of AI to “rob” them.

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Others, including singer Taylor Swift, have been forced to confront deepfake pornography, while Jennifer Aniston’s likeness has been used in YouTube scams.

Last year, McConaughey signed a deal with AI voice company ElevenLabs to create a Spanish audio version of his newsletter “Lyrics of Livin.” The actor is also an investor in the firm.

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