Matthew McConaughey Registers Trademark for His Image and Voice to Prevent AI Deepfakes

With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a Hollywood star has established legal protections against unauthorized deepfake content. Actor Matthew McConaughey, known for films 〈Interstellar〉 and 〈Magic Mike〉, has taken the unusual step of registering his image and voice as trademarks.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 13th (local time) that Matthew McConaughey has submitted a total of 8 trademark applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in recent months and has received approval.

The approved trademarks include a 7-second video clip of him standing at the entrance and a 3-second video clip of him sitting in front of a Christmas tree. Additionally, a famous line from his debut film 〈Dazed and Confused〉, "Alright, alright, alright," has also been registered as a trademark.

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McConaughey's legal team explained that this trademark application is a legal measure to prevent AI applications and users from unauthorized reproducing his voice and appearance.

In an email to WSJ, McConaughey stated, "I wanted to make it clear that if my voice or likeness is used, it is only because I have permitted and approved it."

Current state laws in the U.S. already prohibit the unauthorized use of an actor's image for advertising products. However, McConaughey and his legal team expect that this trademark registration will allow them to include issues related to AI-generated videos, which are not explicit product advertisements, as subjects of federal lawsuits. They believe this will more effectively curb the misuse of AI technology.

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However, experts are cautious about the effectiveness of such legal measures. In particular, there are concerns about whether this trademark can actually be effective on internet video platforms that monetize through advertising.

Professor Mark McKenna from the UCLA School of Law pointed out in an interview with WSJ, "This is exactly what people are most concerned about with new technologies," and noted, "There are no clear regulations on whether these would be considered advertising or not."