Matthew McConaughey registers voice and image with U.S. patent office to protect against unauthorized AI use
The actor filed video clips and audio recordings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office through his foundation to prevent misuse by AI platforms.
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Matthew McConaughey has filed video clips of his image and audio recordings of his voice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to protect them from unauthorized use by artificial intelligence groups and platforms.
The materials were registered by the commercial arm of the Just Keep Livin Foundation, which McConaughey created with his wife Camila, according to records reviewed by AFP in the USPTO database.
Kevin Yorn, the actor's attorney, said the move aims to ensure clients receive the same protections for their likenesses as they do for their businesses. "We want to make sure that our clients enjoy the same protection of their businesses and make sure they can be compensated for the use of their voice and their image," Yorn said.
The filing reflects growing concern among artists about the use of their images through generative artificial intelligence since the arrival of ChatGPT. Several U.S. states have adopted laws prohibiting such use, though many focus primarily on malicious or commercial purposes. The Elvis Act, approved by Tennessee's state legislature in 2024, offers broader protections.
Few actors have taken legal action to enforce their rights in this area. Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against an AI app in 2023 over unauthorized use of her likeness.