Matthew McConaughey Officially Owns His Most Iconic Catchphrases
Matthew McConaughey has trademarked several important pieces of his own IP, including that most-famous catchphrase, to protect against future “AI misuse,” per Variety.
Matthew McConaughey Officially Owns 'Alright, Alright, Alright'
It was announced on Wednesday, Jan. 15, that lawyers with the entertainment law firm Yorn Levine who represent the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days actor have successfully secured trademarks for eight of his most famous catchphrases from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The attorneys say this is to protect McConaughey’s voice and likeness from any future unauthorized “misuse” from artificial intelligence platforms. Yorn Levine also represents A-list stars such as Zoe Saldaña and Scarlett Johansson.
Unsurprisingly, first in line for copyright protection was McConaughey’s famous “Alright, alright, alright,” catchphrase, which he coined in Richard Linklater’s classic 1993 comedy Dazed and Confused. In the ensuing three decades, the phrase has become synonymous with McConaughey whilst also making its way into the cultural lexicon.
Gramercy Pictures
It appears that, aside from precluding use of McConaughey’s voice and likeness, the patents also seek to protect his particular type of speech. According to the trademark registration for the clip: “The mark consists of a man saying ‘alright, alright, alright,’ wherein 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.” Lawyers applied for this trademark protection back in December 2023. It was granted by the USPTO last month.
McConaughey Patented 7 More Personal Catchphrases
Also trademarked are a seven-second video clip of McConaughey standing on the porch of a modest home; a three-second clip of him sitting in front of a Christmas tree; and a peculiar audio clip which begins with the actor saying “Just keep livin’, right?” which he follows after a pause with, “I mean,” and ending with “What are we gonna do?” after a second extended pause. Each of the eight trademarks is registered to J.K. Livin Brands Inc., which is the parent of McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin apparel line.
“I don’t know what a court will say in the end. But we have to at least test this,” said Yorn Levine partner and co-founder Kevin Yorn in a statement. Added Jonathan Pollack, Yorn Levine of-counsel attorney: “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.”