Earlier this year, we introduced the NoAI tag, which indicates to generative AI programs that a particular model is not to be used for generative AI data collection. We did this to give creators more control over how their work is used.
Previously, using a Creative Commons (“CC”) license was the only way to distribute models for free on Sketchfab, so applying the NoAI tag to free content could only be done under a CC license. Now, we’ve expanded our Standard License so the NoAI tag can be applied to both free and paid models under our Standard License.
Why we are doing this?
If a creator applies the NoAI tag to a model they’ve made available under a Creative Commons license, the tag may not be enforceable outside of the Sketchfab platform. This means that for CC-licensed work, the NoAI tag might not be respected because the CC license may allow use of the work by generative AI programs regardless of the tag. This is due to the way CC licenses work and is not something Sketchfab can control. Read more about that in our Help Center article and this CC blog.
After confronting AI companies who scraped Sketchfab, it became clear that uncertainties in copyright law make it difficult for both Sketchfab and creators to enforce NoAI restrictions on CC-licensed content. To address this issue while still honoring creators’ intent, we have expanded our Standard License to include free models.
How using the Standard License offers more control over your work
Starting today, creators can distribute free models under our Standard License and apply the NoAI tag to contractually prohibit use of their model for generative AI data collection. The NoAI tag remains contractually enforceable on Standard-licensed models once they have been downloaded from Sketchfab. We have introduced this additional contractual provision so that creators have a more certain way to take action against AI data collection if the NoAI restrictions applied to their content are violated.
The Standard License allows 3D assets to be used worldwide, on all types of media, for all types of use (whether commercial and non-commercial), in all types of derivative works. No credit needs to be given to the original creator. The Standard License is non-exclusive and royalty-free.
If you would like to have NoAI restrictions added to your free-to-download models, consider relicensing your existing CC-licensed models under the Standard License. If you take no action, the settings on your models will remain the same and only the CC license terms (not the Sketchfab Terms of Service which govern the use of the NoAI tag) will apply to further distribution of your model outside the Sketchfab platform.
Starting today, you will no longer be able to apply the NoAI tag to new uploads of CC-licensed content due to the uncertainty around the tag’s enforceability outside of Sketchfab.
Note: Neither Sketchfab nor Epic Games has any agreements with companies allowing them to use content on our websites in datasets for, in the development of, or as inputs to generative AI programs, and under our Terms of Use we aren’t allowed to do this.
About the author
