actor matthew mcconaughey has registered eight trademarks for his visual images, many of which have become popular memes. his lawyers stated that this move is intended to protect these images from being freely disseminated by artificial intelligence.
the list of patent and trademark applications includes the actor’s iconic images—such as the moment he delivers the line “alright, alright, alright” in the film “dazed and confused,” as well as videos of him standing on a porch or sitting beneath a christmas tree.
lawyers noted that trademark registration is crucial for preventing others from arbitrarily using an actor’s image and likeness through neural network tools. however, they are currently uncertain about how courts would rule if such precedents were to emerge. specifically, plaintiffs must prove that ai-generated memes bring economic benefits to their creators.
meanwhile, matthew mcconaughey himself has not completely distanced himself from neural networks. he previously invested in elevenlabs and even allowed the company to use his voice to narrate its regularly released spanish-language news briefings. |
