Overview
- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved eight registrations covering short videos and audio, including his “Alright, alright, alright” line.
- McConaughey says the goal is to ensure any use of his voice or likeness occurs only with his consent and proper attribution.
- His legal team frames the filings as a deterrent to monetizing AI replicas and a way to take violators to federal court.
- Attorney Kevin Yorn acknowledges the approach may be unproven in court, while law professor Orly Lobel calls it a novel hybrid that elevates protections to federal claims.
- The move responds to recent misuse examples, including fraudulent ads using Tom Hanks’s image and viral deepfakes of the Stranger Things cast and Leonardo DiCaprio, within ongoing industry concerns following the 2023 strikes.