Matthew McConaughey trademarks voice and image to block AI misuse
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his image and voice to protect them from unauthorised use by artificial intelligence platforms.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, clips of McConaughey, including his famous line "alright, alright, alright" from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused, have been registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Lawyers for the Magic Mike star said this is the first time an actor has used trademark law to protect their likeness from possible AI misuse. They added that while there is no current example of his image being misused, the move is aimed at stopping any future unauthorised copies.
McConaughey's decision comes after several celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson and Taylor Swift, were targeted with fake videos, audio and images created using AI tools.
The actor is not against generative AI. He has invested in ElevenLabs, an AI voice technology company, which has created an AI audio version of his voice with his permission.
McConaughey rose to fame with Dazed and Confused and later starred in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact and Interstellar. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club.