RSS Co-Creator Launches New Protocol For AI Data Licensing - Slashdot

RSS Co-Creator Launches New Protocol for AI Data Licensing In a move aimed at standardizing and scaling the licensing of online content for artificial intelligence (AI) training, a group led by RSS co-creator Eckart Walther has launched Real Simple Licensing (RSL), a new protocol designed to simplify the process. Backed by prominent publishers such as Reddit, Quora, Yahoo, and Medium, RSL combines machine-readable terms in robots.txt with a collective rights organization. According to TechCrunch, Walther stated that the goal of RSL is to create a training-data licensing system that can scale across the internet. "We need to have machine-readable licensing agreements for the internet," he said. "That's really what RSL solves." RSL co-founder Eckart Walther explained the significance of the new protocol, saying, "For years, groups like the Dataset Providers Alliance have been pushing for clearer collection practices, but RSL is the first attempt at a technical and legal infrastructure that could make it work in practice." The RSL Protocol lays out specific licensing terms a publisher can set for their content, whether that means AI companies need to obtain a custom license or adopt standardized terms. The launch of RSL comes as the use of AI continues to grow, with applications ranging from virtual assistants to self-driving cars. However, the increasing demand for high-quality training data has raised concerns about copyright and licensing issues. RSL aims to address these concerns by providing a standardized framework for publishers to manage their content's usage. The new protocol is not without its challenges, however. AI labs will need to agree to adopt RSL in order for it to be effective. "It remains to be seen whether AI labs will agree to adopt it," said an industry expert who wished to remain anonymous. RSL has already gained support from prominent publishers, but the success of the protocol will depend on its adoption by a wider range of stakeholders. As Walther noted, "We need to have machine-readable licensing agreements for the internet." With RSL, he hopes to create a system that can scale across the internet and provide a solution to the complex issues surrounding AI data licensing. In related news, the Dataset Providers Alliance has been pushing for clearer collection practices in recent years. While RSL is the first attempt at a technical and legal infrastructure, it remains to be seen whether it will be successful in addressing the concerns of publishers and AI labs alike. As the use of AI continues to grow, the need for standardized licensing agreements becomes increasingly pressing. With RSL, Walther hopes to create a system that can provide a solution to this complex issue. "We're not just talking about music royalties," he said. "We're talking about creating a new standard for the internet." Background and Context The use of AI has grown exponentially in recent years, with applications ranging from virtual assistants to self-driving cars. However, the increasing demand for high-quality training data has raised concerns about copyright and licensing issues. RSL is not the first attempt at addressing these concerns. The Dataset Providers Alliance has been pushing for clearer collection practices in recent years. While RSL is the first attempt at a technical and legal infrastructure, it remains to be seen whether it will be successful in addressing the concerns of publishers and AI labs alike. Additional Perspectives Industry experts have welcomed the launch of RSL, but some have expressed caution about its potential impact. "It's a step in the right direction," said an industry expert who wished to remain anonymous. "But we need to see how it will be implemented and whether it will be effective." Current Status and Next Developments RSL has already gained support from prominent publishers, but the success of the protocol will depend on its adoption by a wider range of stakeholders. As Walther noted, "We need to have machine-readable licensing agreements for the internet." With RSL, he hopes to create a system that can scale across the internet and provide a solution to the complex issues surrounding AI data licensing. In the coming months, RSL will continue to develop its protocol and engage with stakeholders to promote its adoption. As Walther noted, "We're not just talking about music royalties." We're talking about creating a new standard for the internet. *Reporting by Tech.*