Matthew McConaughey has taken a novel approach to copyrighting his likeness, as well as his famous catchphrase “Alright, alright, alright.”
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the Oscar-winner, famous for films such as Interstellar and Dallas Buyer’s Club, had eight eight trademark applications approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The article says the trademarked works included “seven-second clip of the Oscar-winner standing on a porch, a three-second clip of him sitting in front of a Christmas tree, and audio of him saying ‘Alright, alright, alright.’”
The phrase was first said by the actor in his debut role as David Wooderson in 1993 comedy Dazed And Confused. It has since been associated with the actor, who enjoyed a successful career in romantic comedies before pivoting into award-winning drama in the 2010s, a comeback that was nicknamed The McConaissance’.
The actor said in an email to the outlet: “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. We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.”
Jonathan Pollack, one of McConaughey’s attorneys, added: “In a world where we’re watching everybody scramble to figure out what to do about AI misuse, we have a tool now to stop someone in their tracks or take them to federal court.”
The news comes a couple of months after fellow Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman announced he was taking legal action over AI works using his iconic voice without consent.
“I’m a little PO’d, you know,” he told The Guardian. “I’m like any other actor: don’t mimic me with falseness. I don’t appreciate it and I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you’re gonna do it without me, you’re robbing me.”
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