Actor Matthew McConaughey has filed video and audio recordings of his image and voice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in a bid to protect them from unauthorised use by artificial intelligence platforms.
The recordings were registered by the commercial arm of the Just Keep Livin’ Foundation, a non-profit set up by the Oscar-winning actor and his wife Camila.
Concerns about AI-generated impersonation and deepfakes have been growing across the entertainment industry. Several US states have adopted legislation that serves as consumer protection against certain AI systems, but much of this applies mainly to malicious use or commercial purposes.
Only a few, notably Tennessee’s Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, signed into law in March 2024, offer more targeted protections for artists against AI-generated cloning or impersonation.
Several high-profile figures have also spoken out about alleged unauthorised use of their likeness. In 2023, Scarlett Johansson’s representatives said she had taken legal action after an online advert for an AI app used footage of her and an AI-generated imitation.
McConaughey has also engaged with the technology on his own terms. He has partnered with AI audio company ElevenLabs to produce a Spanish-language audio version of his newsletter using a synthetic version of his voice, with permission, and has invested in the firm.
Attorney Kevin Yorn, who represents McConaughey, said the aim was “to make sure that our clients have the same kind of protections that their businesses have”.
He added that it was also about ensuring clients could “capture some of the value” created by the technology using their voice and likeness.
Source: AFP