Matthew McConaughey Moves to Protect His Iconic Catchphrases From AI Misuse

Matthew McConaughey and his legal team are taking a firm stand against the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence to copy his voice, likeness and famous lines — including his instantly recognizable catchphrase, “Alright, alright, alright.”

Lawyers from entertainment law firm Yorn Levine have secured eight new trademarks for McConaughey from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office over the past several months. The move is designed to protect the actor from AI-generated audio and video that imitates him without permission.

One of the most notable approvals is a sound trademark covering McConaughey’s delivery of “Alright, alright, alright!” — the line that helped define his breakout role in Dazed and Confused. The trademark even describes the specific pitch and rhythm of how the words are spoken, underscoring how closely the phrase is tied to McConaughey’s identity.

Other trademarks include short video clips of the actor, such as a seven-second clip of him standing on a porch and a three-second clip of him sitting in front of a Christmas tree. Additional audio trademarks protect his spoken line “Just keep livin’, right? I mean, what are we gonna do?” — another phrase strongly associated with him.

While state right-of-publicity laws already limit the commercial misuse of a celebrity’s image or voice, McConaughey’s legal team pursued trademark protection to strengthen his ability to act in federal court. According to the lawyers, this approach could help stop AI-generated content even when it is not directly selling a product.

Kevin Yorn, a co-founder and partner at Yorn Levine, said the strategy is untested but necessary as AI tools rapidly advance. He noted that the goal is to create a clear legal path to challenge misuse before it becomes widespread.

Jonathan Pollack, an of-counsel attorney at the firm, added that trademarks provide a practical enforcement tool in an era where creators and courts are still grappling with how to regulate AI.

The trademarks are not only defensive. McConaughey is also exploring approved uses of AI. He recently announced a partnership with ElevenLabs to create a Spanish-language version of his “Lyrics of Livin’” newsletter using an authorized version of his voice. McConaughey is an investor in the company, alongside Yorn through venture-capital firm BroadLight Capital.

All eight trademarks are registered to J.K. Livin Brands Inc., the parent company behind McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin lifestyle and apparel business.

As AI-generated media becomes more realistic and more common, McConaughey’s legal push could become a blueprint for how celebrities protect what makes them uniquely recognizable — their voice, their image and, in his case, three unforgettable words.