High-profile entertainers are confronting artificial intelligence technology capable of replicating their distinctive voices without authorization or compensation. To address this threat, celebrities including Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie, and Matthew McConaughey are pursuing a novel legal strategy: filing federal trademark applications to protect their iconic phrases and vocal characteristics, treating them similarly to how corporations protect audio logos and brand marks.

The approach draws on established trademark doctrine, which has historically protected sounds such as the NBC three-note chime registered in 1950. These artists contend that consumers instinctively associate their distinctive vocal expressions with them as a commercial source, thereby qualifying for protection under the Lanham Act alongside traditional logos and slogans. While Matthew McConaughey's eight registrations—including his celebrated phrase "Alright, alright, alright"—received approval in 2025 and 2026, this broader strategy remains legally untested and confronts significant obstacles, as trademark law was conventionally designed to prevent consumer confusion about products and services rather than to safeguard individual vocal identity.