Actor Matthew McConaughey has taken a bold step to protect his likeness from being misused by artificial intelligence companies, filing trademark applications that have already been approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office for eight video and audio clips featuring him. The most notable examples include a clip of him standing on a porch and an audio recording of his iconic catchphrase "alright, alright, alright" from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused.
In a move that highlights the uncertainty surrounding the use of someone's likeness in AI-generated content, McConaughey is taking proactive measures to safeguard his intellectual property. His lawyer, Kevin Yorn, acknowledges that the court's ruling on this issue remains unclear, but they aim to deter companies from using McConaughey's likeness for AI by threatening a potential lawsuit.
This isn't the first time actors have expressed concerns about AI-generated content. The issue was a sticking point in the labor union SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios' negotiations during their 2023 strike. McConaughey, however, is not anti-AI himself; he's an investor in ElevenLabs, an AI startup with which he has partnered to create a Spanish version of his newsletter.
In a statement, McConaughey emphasized the importance of obtaining consent and proper attribution for any use of his voice or likeness. "We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world," he said, underscoring the need for greater clarity on these issues.
In a move that highlights the uncertainty surrounding the use of someone's likeness in AI-generated content, McConaughey is taking proactive measures to safeguard his intellectual property. His lawyer, Kevin Yorn, acknowledges that the court's ruling on this issue remains unclear, but they aim to deter companies from using McConaughey's likeness for AI by threatening a potential lawsuit.
This isn't the first time actors have expressed concerns about AI-generated content. The issue was a sticking point in the labor union SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios' negotiations during their 2023 strike. McConaughey, however, is not anti-AI himself; he's an investor in ElevenLabs, an AI startup with which he has partnered to create a Spanish version of his newsletter.
In a statement, McConaughey emphasized the importance of obtaining consent and proper attribution for any use of his voice or likeness. "We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world," he said, underscoring the need for greater clarity on these issues.
! Matthew McConaughey is taking steps to protect his image from being used in AI-generated content without his permission - I'm totally here for that 
! It's about time someone stood up for their rights, especially when it comes to something as personal as your voice and likeness. I mean, can you imagine if your face was plastered on a billboard or commercial without your consent? 
It's crazy how uncertain this whole AI-generated content thing is - I just hope they figure out the rules soon so creators like McConaughey don't have to worry about it 
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, it'd be so much fun! Maybe I'll even use some AI tools... who knows? 
One thing's for sure - with great power comes great responsibility 
. Let's hope these actors and creators keep pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in this wild world we live in 
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That would be a total rip-off! But at the same time, you can't blame McConaughey for wanting control over how his likeness is used. I mean, it's not like he's against AI altogether – he's even invested in an AI startup himself! It just makes sense that we need clearer guidelines on using someone's voice or face without permission. Kudos to him for taking a stand and setting the bar high 
, I'm low-key obsessed with Matthew McConaughey's move here 
. I mean, can you imagine if someone used your likeness without permission or credit? 
It's like, totally not cool 
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. And kudos to him for being open about the uncertainty surrounding this issue - transparency is key 
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. One thing's for sure: it's about time someone took a stand on this! 
I don't think this is a bold step at all, it's about time someone did something about this! I mean, come on, AI-generated content is gonna be everywhere soon and we need to figure out who owns the rights to that stuff. Matthew McConaughey is basically just trying to protect his own interests here. I'm not saying he's wrong, but let's not pretend like this is some kind of revolutionary move... it's just smart business practice 
. And can you imagine if someone started making an AI-generated version of the Matrix with Keanu Reeves as Neo? Lawsuit city would be poppin'!
. And yeah, the industry needs more clarity on this stuff. It's not just actors, either - how many people are gonna start worrying about their online presence now? 
. I mean, AI-generated content can be really cool and useful, but if it starts to infringe on people's rights... that's a whole different story 
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. It's interesting that he's partnering with an AI startup too - maybe they can figure out a way to make this whole thing more transparent? 
. Now we just gotta wait for the courts to weigh in on this one 
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It's wild thinking about how much control we're gonna have over our digital identities... anyway, I'm all for consent and proper attribution, but this feels like a slippery slope, you feel? 
I'm sure AI companies are just waiting for someone to file for trademark protection and then they'll be like "oh no, we didn't think that one through"... meanwhile McConaughey is just cashing in on his own IP 
. And what's the point of investing in an AI startup if he's not even gonna have control over how his likeness is used?