Matthew McConaughey Moves to Protect His Famous Catchphrase from AI
Matthew McConaughey has taken legal steps to safeguard his signature phrase, aiming to prevent unauthorised AI use of his voice and image. The actor has filed multiple trademark applications to secure his identity in the digital age.
Matthew McConaughey has made a move to lock down his well-known catchphrase, “All right, all right, all right”, in an effort to keep artificial intelligence from using his voice or image without his say-so. The phrase, which first popped up in the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused, has become a trademark of the actor’s career. He even dropped it during his acceptance speech when he picked up the Best Actor gong at the Oscars in 2014 for Dallas Buyers Club.
Now, McConaughey has filed eight separate trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office. These applications cover his voice and likeness, aiming to stop apps and AI tools from using them without his green light. The Oscar winner explained his thinking to The Wall Street Journal, saying,
“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.”
He added,
“We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.”
Legal Uncertainty and Industry Response
Despite the paperwork, there’s still a bit of a question mark over how courts will handle these sorts of claims. McConaughey’s lawyer, Kevin Yorn, admitted,
“I don’t know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this.”
The move comes as more public figures look for ways to keep control over their digital selves, especially as AI gets better at mimicking voices and faces.
McConaughey isn’t just sitting on the sidelines, either. He’s an investor in ElevenLabs, a company working on tech that lets people use the voices of well-known personalities—living or dead—if they’ve given the nod. The company recently announced plans for an ‘Iconic Voice Marketplace’, where only those who’ve agreed will have their voices available for AI use.
ElevenLabs and the Future of Voice Tech
Michael Caine is one of the big names who’ve signed up with ElevenLabs. He reckons the company is
“helping others”
and said,
“ElevenLabs is at the very forefront of technology, using innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it.”
The idea is to make sure that any use of a famous voice is above board and with the person’s blessing.
McConaughey himself has plans to use the tech for good. Through ElevenLabs, he’s set to launch an audio version of his Lyrics of Livin’ newsletter in Spanish, showing he’s keen to explore new ways to connect with fans while keeping control over his own identity.