Alright, Alright, Alright: Why Matthew McConaughey Just Trademarked His Own Face

In a move that feels like a plot point from a futuristic thriller, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey is taking a stand against the "Wild West" of Artificial Intelligence. The Interstellar star has officially filed and received approval for eight separate trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to protect his most valuable assets: his face, his voice, and his legendary expressions.

While Hollywood has been vocal about the dangers of deepfakes, McConaughey is the first A-lister to take this specific, aggressive legal path. Here is a breakdown of how the actor is "circling the wagons" around his digital identity.

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What Exactly Did He Trademark?

This wasn’t just a broad claim of "I own me." McConaughey’s legal team filed specific audio and video clips to establish a "federal perimeter" around his likeness. The approved trademarks include:

• The Catchphrase: An audio recording of his iconic line, "Alright, alright, alright," from the 1993 classic Dazed and Confused.

• The "Texas Drawl": A specific audio clip of him saying, "Just keep livin', right? I mean... what are we gonna do?"

• The Visuals: A seven-second video of the actor standing on a porch and a three-second clip of him sitting in front of a Christmas tree.

• The Expressions: Various registrations covering his specific "staring, smiling, and talking" patterns.

Why Trademarks Instead of Standard Laws?

Most celebrities rely on Right of Publicity laws, which vary from state to state and often require proving that someone is making money off their image. By securing Federal Trademarks, McConaughey’s team gains a much sharper tool.

According to his attorney, Jonathan Pollack, this allows them to "stop someone in their tracks" in federal court—even if the AI-generated content isn't explicitly being used to sell a product. It targets the simulation itself.

"We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world." — Matthew McConaughey

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The "AI Paradox": Protection vs. Partnership

Interestingly, McConaughey isn't "anti-AI." He is actually an investor in ElevenLabs, a leading AI audio startup. He recently used their technology to create a Spanish-language version of his newsletter, Lyrics of Livin’, using an AI-generated version of his own voice.

His stance is clear: AI is a tool for creators, but only when the creator holds the keys. He isn't trying to stop the technology; he’s trying to ensure that if his voice or face is used, it’s because he signed off on it and—crucially—received a cut of the value.

What This Means for the Future of Hollywood

McConaughey’s proactive move sets a massive precedent. For years, actors like Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson have dealt with unauthorized AI ads after the fact. McConaughey is shifting the strategy from reaction to prevention.

Key Player	AI Stance	Action Taken
Matthew McConaughey	Pro-Consent AI	Trademarked voice/face clips (2026)
Scarlett Johansson	Defensive	Sued AI app for unauthorized likeness (2023)
Tom Hanks	Defensive	Issued public warnings against dental ad fakes (2023)
SAG-AFTRA	Regulatory	Negotiated "Digital Replica" protections in 2024-25 contracts

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The Bottom Line

As deepfakes become indistinguishable from reality, the definition of "intellectual property" is expanding to include the very essence of a human being’s personality. Matthew McConaughey is betting that in the future, your "vibe" might be your most protected legal asset.

Would you like me to help you draft a social media thread or a LinkedIn post summarizing the legal implications of this move for other creators?