DON’T

TRAIN

ON ME

a /robots.txt for media

Take a stand against the unlicensed use of creative works for training AI models.

Simply embed a DTOM Declaration into one of your creative works — it only takes one minute!

What is DTOM?

Inspired by the success of robots.txt, the “Don’t Train on Me” (DTOM) petition introduces a universal AI-opt-out declaration for your digital assets.

DTOM is pressuring legislators and corporations to respect your creative IP: any training must come with consent, recognition, and compensation.

DTOM needs your support:

(1) Select one of your creative works.
(2) Embed a DTOM Declaration on it.
(3) Spread the word with #DontTrainOnMe.

Why is DTOM Effective?

More than just a petition.

Petitions have been signed. Lawsuits have been filed. But that’s not enough: a practical solution needs to be put in front of Congress and Big Tech. With your support, DTOM can accomplish exactly that.

The Technology.

DTOM combines C2PA metadata and Trufo watermarks to craft a DTOM Declaration that is recognized even after your content has been published and distributed across the web.

The Legislation.

Per DMCA 1202(b), DTOM Declarations cannot be deliberately removed. Per legal precedence from robots.txt, respecting copyright in web scraping is enforceable by law when said copyright information is easy to read.

FAQs

  • Currently, the DTOM Declaration can only be used on images, including digital art and photographs. Multiple image formats are supported (JPEG, PNG, WEBP, TIFF).

    We are currently working towards adding robust support for videos. We also plan to support audio and text, pending further research.

  • While robots.txt is anchored to websites, the DTOM Declaration is anchored to content. This means that you, as the creator of the content, can make the decision to opt-out.

    In order for this to work, the DTOM Declaration needs to be resilient. Metadata is easily lost, for example when exporting from an iPhone or when uploading onto Instagram. Watermarks, on the other hand, are difficult to remove, and most importantly, it is easy to prove that any removal is deliberate and therefore in violation of DMCA 1202(b).

  • The DTOM Declaration is compatible with most tools. For Glaze in particular, we recommend applying Glaze first before adding on the DTOM Declaration because Glaze distorts the image more.

    If there is a use case you would like specific clarification on, email us and we will get back to you.

  • The organization committee consists of lawyers, engineers, and artists, united by the mission to ensure that human creativity is respected in the age of generative AI.

    If you would like to join, email us with your résumé and a brief statement of intent. We will get in touch.