Matthew McConaughey’s legal team has taken action to prevent the unauthorized use of the actor’s iconic catchphrase by artificial intelligence. Over recent months, attorneys from entertainment law firm Yorn Levine have secured eight trademarks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect McConaughey’s voice and likeness against potential AI misuse.
Legal Steps to Safeguard McConaughey’s Signature Phrases and Image
Among the trademarks granted to McConaughey is a distinctive sound mark of his famous line “Alright, alright, alright!” from the 1993 comedy Dazed and Confused. This phrase has become deeply linked with McConaughey’s public image. The intellectual property protections also cover short video clips: a seven-second scene of McConaughey standing on a porch, a three-second clip with him sitting before a Christmas tree, and an audio segment featuring him saying, “Just keep livin’, right?” followed by pauses and ending with the phrase “What are we gonna do?”
Detailed Characteristics of the Trademarked Audio
The trademark registration for the “Alright, alright, alright” sound mark highlights the unique vocal pattern of the phrase. The application notes,
The mark consists of a man saying ‘ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT,’ wherein the first syllable of the first two words is at a lower pitch than the second syllable, and the first syllable of the last word is at a higher pitch than the second syllable.
McConaughey’s representatives applied for this trademark in December 2023, with USPTO approval granted in December 2025.
Why Trademarking Catchphrases Is a New Legal Approach
While state rights-of-publicity laws offer some protection for celebrities’ images and likenesses, those protections generally apply to commercial products. The Yorn Levine firm opted for trademark registration as a strategic move, granting McConaughey the ability to sue in federal courts if AI-generated content uses his catchphrase without permission. This approach aims to counteract unauthorized use that does not necessarily involve direct sales. As Kevin Yorn, Yorn Levine’s co-founder and partner, explained,
I don’t know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this,
illustrating the uncertainty but necessity of this legal test.
New Legal Tools to Confront AI Copyright Challenges
Jonathan Pollack, of-counsel attorney at Yorn Levine, emphasized the importance of having legal mechanisms to address misuse as AI technologies advance. He stated,
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.
This tool is designed to help celebrities like McConaughey protect their identities as AI-generated content grows increasingly prevalent in digital media.
Balancing Protection with New AI Opportunities
The trademark strategy also allows McConaughey to explore new ventures involving AI technology. He recently partnered with AI voice company ElevenLabs to create a version of his newsletter, Lyrics of Livin’, in Spanish using a digital likeness of his voice. McConaughey is an investor in ElevenLabs, sharing venture interests with Kevin Yorn, who co-founded BroadLight Capital, a firm also backing the AI company.
Corporate Ownership of Trademarks
All eight trademarks related to McConaughey are registered under J.K. Livin Brands Inc., a company based in Sherman Oaks, California. J.K. Livin Brands also manages McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin apparel line, linking the legal protections firmly to the actor’s brand and business ventures.
Implications for Celebrity Rights in the AI Era
These trademarks mark a novel legal front in protecting public figures as AI technologies increasingly replicate voices, images, and catchphrases. By securing federal trademarks, McConaughey gains a stronger position to challenge misuse, potentially setting precedent for other entertainers. This approach shows a shift in how celebrities might defend their identities and monetize new AI-driven opportunities while fighting unauthorized content.
