Matthew McConaughey has heard his iconic “alright, alright, alright” catchphrase repeated back to him since it first left his lips in 1993, and a recent trademark filing from the actor will help ensure AI doesn’t steal any of his thunder.
The Interstellar star took steps to protect himself from theft when working with attorneys at law firm Yorn Levine to secure trademarks related to some of his catchiest lines (via The Wall Street Journal). The goal is to maintain ownership over his voice, likeness, and delivery as the use of unauthorized artificial intelligence material becomes more prevalent.
“Alright, alright, alright,” the line McConaughey famously brought life to in 1993’s Dazed and Confused, is no doubt the most notable audio trademark registered by the actor. Other successfully filed trademarks include a three-second video of the actor in front of a Christmas tree and a seven-second video of him standing on a porch. It doesn’t seem the action was inspired by any incident of misuse in particular, instead suggesting the trademarks will help combat potential issue related to AI in the future.
“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 actor told The Wall Street Journal in an email. “We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.”
Hollywood and artists everywhere have been rocked by AI as the technology has improved in recent years. Video game voice actors who are members of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike in support of regulation for generative AI in July 2024 and concluded the strike in June 2025. Avatar and Titanic mastermind James Cameron has been vocal about his concerns related to AI performances as recently as last month, saying the idea of performances generated from scratch was “horrifying.”
McConaughey and other actors already have some protection from AI misuse as the technology is increasingly used to pull from their likenesses without permission. Kevin Yorn, one of the star’s lawyers, admits he isn’t sure how a challenge to one of his trademarks could play out.
“I don’t know what a court will say in the end,” Yorn said. “But we have to at least test this.”
As McConaughey gets proactive about his place as an actor in an AI world, there’s no telling how other actors may follow suit. For more, you can read up on how New York became the first state to require transparency with AI actors last month.
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via getty Images.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
