Why has Matthew McConaughey trademarked his phrase? Landmark AI case explained

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Matthew McConaughey has legally protected his famous catchphrase, “Alright, Alright, Alright!” Here’s the reason behind his decision to trademark it.

Matthew McConaughey first popularized the phrase “Alright, Alright, Alright!” in the film Dazed and Confused. While playing the character Wooderson, he established that the character’s priorities were simple: his car, music, girls, and having a good time.

In that moment, he greeted three people with “alright” as he approached a fourth, seemingly trying to flirt with them.

The scene and the line “Alright, Alright, Alright!” quickly became iconic, turning into a signature catchphrase for Matthew McConaughey. He’s used it frequently in interviews, and even included it in films and commercials. This is why he’s so careful about protecting the phrase, particularly from the possibility of it being used by artificial intelligence.

Matthew McConaughey fights AI with eight trademarks

Matthew McConaughey has filed for and received eight trademarks to prevent others from using his voice or image without permission, specifically to guard against unauthorized use by artificial intelligence.

Variety reports that lawyers from Yorn Levine filed a trademark application in December 2023, which was approved by the USPTO in December 2025.

Okay, so I was looking into the trademark for that famous phrase, and it’s surprisingly specific! Apparently, legally, it’s not just what is said, but how it’s said. The trademark describes a guy saying ‘ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT’, but with a little vocal pattern – the first part of the first two ‘alright’s is lower pitched, and then the first part of the final ‘alright’ is higher pitched. It’s pretty detailed!

The lawsuit also covers trademarks related to specific content, including a seven-second video of him on a porch, a three-second clip by a Christmas tree, and an audio recording of him saying, “Just keep livin’, right?” followed by pauses and the words “mean” and “What are we gonna do?”

While current laws already shield celebrities from unauthorized use of their image in advertising, this trademark offers wider protection – covering things like AI-generated videos, even if they aren’t used for sales. It also allows Matthew McConaughey to take legal action in federal court if necessary.

Kevin Yorn, co-founder of Yorn Levine, admits he’s unsure how a court will rule, but believes it’s important to pursue the matter and see what happens.

If you’re interested in the ongoing discussion about AI’s role in entertainment, look into the debates surrounding films like Megalopolis, Late Night With the Devil, and Thunderbolts, as well as TV shows such as True Detective and the One Piece anime.

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2026-01-15 13:19