Matthew McConaughey Moves to Shield His Famous Catchphrase from AI
Matthew McConaughey has taken legal steps to protect 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.
Matthew McConaughey has decided to put a legal fence around his well-known phrase, “All right, all right, all right”, in an effort to keep artificial intelligence from running off with his voice or image. The phrase, which first slipped out during his role in the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused, has become something of a calling card for the actor. It even made an appearance during his Oscar acceptance speech for Dallas Buyers Club back in 2014, cementing its place in pop culture.
Not content with simply relying on goodwill, McConaughey has submitted eight separate trademark applications to the US Patent and Trademark Office. The aim? To make it clear that any use of his voice or likeness, especially by AI tools or apps, needs his explicit say-so. As he put it to The Wall Street Journal,
“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 went on to explain,
“We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world.”
Legal Uncertainties and Industry Moves
Of course, the legal waters here are a bit murky. McConaughey’s lawyer, Kevin Yorn, admitted there’s no guarantee the courts will see things their way, remarking,
“I don’t know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this.”
It’s a bit of a leap into the unknown, but one McConaughey seems willing to take to keep control over his own identity.
McConaughey isn’t just taking legal action; he’s also got a stake in the technology itself. He’s an investor in ElevenLabs, a company that’s been making headlines for its work with both living and deceased actors. The firm is preparing to launch what it calls the ‘Iconic Voice Marketplace’, a platform where high-profile figures can give the green light for their voices to be used by AI. Michael Caine, for one, has already signed up, noting that the company is “helping others” and adding,
“ElevenLabs is at the very forefront of technology, using innovation not to replace humanity, but to celebrate it.”
New Ventures and Future Plans
Through his involvement with ElevenLabs, McConaughey has also announced plans to produce an audio version of his Lyrics of Livin’ newsletter in Spanish. It’s a move that suggests he’s not against technology per se—just keen to ensure it’s used with proper consent and oversight.
For now, the actor’s efforts to trademark his catchphrase and protect his digital self are as much about setting boundaries as they are about embracing new opportunities. Whether the courts will back him up remains to be seen, but McConaughey seems determined to have the final word on how his voice and image are used in the digital age.