Matthew McConaughey is legally locking down his signature line — and drawing a line for AI. The Oscar winner has secured eight federal trademarks, including a rare sound mark, for his famed 1993 Dazed and Confused catchphrase “Alright, alright, alright.” The filings, obtained by his lawyers at Yorn Levine and registered to J.K. Livin Brands Inc. (the parent of his Just Keep Livin apparel line), even codify the phrase’s vocal rhythm: “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.” That level of specificity underscores the registration’s focus on McConaughey’s distinctive delivery. Why it matters for AI and web3: federal trademark registration gives McConaughey standing to sue in federal court and creates a legal basis to challenge unauthorized uses of his voice or likeness — including AI-generated recreations — even if the usage isn’t overtly commercial. “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,” said Jonathan Pollack, of-counsel at Yorn Levine, to Variety. Kevin Yorn, a partner at the firm (whose roster includes Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldaña and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone), added: “I don't know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this.” The move sits alongside McConaughey’s selective embrace of AI. Last November he partnered with and invested in AI voice company ElevenLabs to produce Spanish-language versions of his “Lyrics of Livin’” newsletter using AI voice replication — a reminder that his legal posture targets unauthorized use, not all AI applications. The broader entertainment industry is already litigating these boundaries. In November, Warner Music Group settled its copyright suit with AI music generator Udio and announced a plan to convert the platform into a licensed service launching in 2026. That agreement followed litigation begun last June, when Warner joined Sony and UMG in accusing Udio and competitor Suno of training AI models on copyrighted recordings without permission. For crypto and web3 audiences, McConaughey’s trademarks are a notable precedent: intellectual-property tools can be used to challenge AI-driven impersonations and cloned voices, but enforcing rights across decentralized platforms and anonymous AI services may pose fresh practical and jurisdictional hurdles. In short, unauthorized AI-generated McConaughey? “Not alright.” Licensed, consent-based uses? A different conversation. Decrypt has reached out to J.K. Livin Brands Inc. for comment. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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