Alright, Alright, Alright - Matthew McConaughey’s Trademark Strategy

By Wei Wei Jeang

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey recently secured federal registration for a number of trademarks through his company J.K. Livin Brands Inc. — the commercial arm of his Just Keep Livin lifestyle brand — with a clear strategic purpose: protect his voice, likeness, and iconic expressions in the age of artificial intelligence.

McConaughey’s legal team registered eight distinct marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that capture elements of his personality and persona — including elements that most celebrities haven’t formally trademarked before.

Among the 55 live trademarks now owned by J.K. Livin Brands Inc. are:

• “ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT®” — the actor’s signature catchphrase from Dazed and Confused, registered not just as a word mark (for clothing) but also now as a sound mark capturing McConaughey’s unique vocal delivery.

• Motion marks — the specimen used to obtain registration is a seven-second video clip of McConaughey on a porch uttering the words "alright, alright, alright," and a three-second clip of him in front of a Christmas tree.

• Audio marks — such as a stylized clip of him saying “Just keep livin’, right? … I mean … what are we gonna do?” with pauses that form its own distinctive cadence.

  
  

These newly registered marks cover entertainment services, "namely, personal appearances by an actor and celebrity," "acting services in the nature of live performances and personal appearances by an actor and celebrity," as well as downloadable audio-visual media content " in the field of self help, human growth and spirituality" and "in the field of entertainment featuring television series, cometies, and dramas."

McConaughey’s legal team is using federal trademark registration proactively as a tool to be able to challenge future unauthorized AI-generated content in federal court — a context where traditional state publicity rights may be less clear.

This trademark strategy — now anchored under J.K. Livin Brands Inc. — reflects both a protectionist response to AI deepfakes and a broader shift in how public figures attempt to assert control over their personal brands in the digital era.

Wei Wei Jeang is consistently recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyer in the areas of patent law and trademark law. Fulton Jeang PLLC is recognized by Chambers USA in the publication's Texas Spotlight.