Registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was made by the commercial arm of the Just Keep Livin foundation
The American actor submitted recordings of his voice and videos to United States intellectual property authorities to patent them and prevent his image from being used without his consent on artificial intelligence (AI) platforms.
The registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was carried out by the commercial arm of the Just Keep Livin foundation, created by the actor and his wife, Brazilian Camila Alves, according to USPTO databases consulted by AFP.
Several artists have expressed discomfort with the use of their image without permission via generative AI, after the emergence of ChatGPT. But few have resorted to legal action to prevent it. One of the most notable examples is that of actress Scarlett Johansson, who sued the Lisa AI app in 2023 for creating, without her consent, an image similar to her for an advertisement.
The approach of McConaughey, winner of an Oscar in 2014, is new, taking the initiative to legally protect his image and voice. McConaughey is not completely opposed to generative AI and has a stake in the start-up ElevenLabs, which specializes in voices. The company has already created an AI version of its voice.
“We want to ensure that our clients have the same type of protection that their companies have,” explained lawyer Kevin Yorn, who represents the actor. And he added that they also intend to ensure that their customers receive “part of the value that is being generated with this new technology through the use of their voice and image”.
*With information from AFP
