HELLO ☹️☹️☹️ i am remixing this project because it will change how i post art in the future, and also to raise awareness for others ● Whats happening? - I have left @CupieMaster's original description in the notes and credits as they explain it well, but TLDR: Scratch stated in their new terms of service that they can use your project's content to train AI - potentially including commercial AI - and you can't opt out. ● What is your view on this? - Hate it. I am against these big generative AI corporations for mannnyyy different reasons so this update really sucks, i do not want my art to be scraped by these companies and used in their image generation. its unclear whether scratch is actually letting AI companies use their user data, but i dont want to risk it ● How will this impact your future projects? - Since it's non opt-out, I will be changing what projects i plan to post in the future. I likely won't post any more art dumps or high effort animations i've done. sadly this means i'll probably stop entering for a lot of MAPs and art contests. I'm going to stick to low effort silly meme stuff since i care less about that being fed to AI ☠️ so yeah.. hopefully ill still make some silly bob projects once im not as busy but expect less artwork/animation stuff. sorry for those who enjoyed my art :(((( ● Is there any good news? yes - i have been informed the AI scratch is training is not for image, code or project generation but as more of an AI helper. source: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/862281/?page=1#post-8939177 however, i still do not entirely trust what scratch is doing. i dislike how they are using this for their kids educational site and how its non-opt out, and as ive said before, it is unclear whether they are making this data accessible to AI companies or not??? its possible its just this bot they're training, but overall their communication for this is very bad... and i just think adding AI is unnecessary :( i guess we'll have to wait for scratch to confirm stuff (if that ever happens) so... *shrug* if things get worse, ill definitely stick to my plan also in the time ive been gone theyve added this whole membership thing.. what is this LOL
ORIGINAL PROJECT/DESCRIPTION written by @CupieMaster Click to go next The screenshots in here are from the scratch terms of service https://mitscratch.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/4000219182-scratch-terms-of-service the content in this project refers to their new ToS updated on January 22nd, 2026, [THE DATE IM SHARING THIS PROJECT] There was no mention of the topics I will be talking about in any previous terms of services before this date Basically, I got this message out of nowhere to agree to the terms and services and I'm a weirdo who likes to read the terms and services For artists and content creators out there, are you aware about this point in the tos? [Highlighted in red] They use a lot of fancy weird words so let me break it down for you ● What scratch is saying: - posting ANY user content [whether it be text, forums, images, etc] grants scratch the right to use it for AI training and for third parties to use it for the same purposes, which is EXPLICITLY written right here in their general ToS ● What this means [for me/you as a user]: - normal things we post on scratch can be used legally by scratch/affiliates to train AI, even if it isn't intended to be used that way - agreement to the Terms of Service means we've agreed and that scratch doesn't have to ask for permission again to use the stuff we post - no opt-out, so the only way to avoid it is to not post - scratch can use our content in AI models that could be commercialized or shared with others ● Why did this stand out to me/why do i find it weird?: - explicitly written into the main general posting thing abt licenses, and not separately (AI stuff is usually handled separately or not mentioned at all) - NO OPT OUT; the license we've agreed to is perpetual (endless/forever) and irrevocable (irreversible, final). Most companies that use user based stuff to train models give consent, opt-out, or tell us that use of AI is limited or specific, and there is NONE OF THAT HERE. - commercial AI use? It's not just for "improving the site", but it allows commercial usage? - scratch is a EDUCATIONAL/kid based site, so I find it weird that they include AI training in the main license without an opt-out, basically giving them a lot of freedom and right to do stuff with our user based content. ● How does this affect me/artists/content creators?: - no opt out, my stuff can be used to train AI anytime - perpetual and irrevocable license; even if I unshare or take down my stuff, they may still have the right to use it for AI content - my content could be copied, analyzed, or included in datasets that generate new AI art without permission or knowledge for potential COMMERICAL AI models, not just for internal research or testing - control over my own art is limited, and my content/art could be contributing to AI models, which I AM AGAINST AS A REAL ARTIST. Honestly most of this is legal stuff, but it's a bit weird and I'm not happy about how there isn't an opt-out or notification that my stuff can be used to train ai. What do you guys think of this? If you're looking for ways to protect your stuff against AI training [because honestly, we don't even know WHAT they're using and how much of it they're feeding to their AI stuff] - don't post stuff you don't want in the ai. It sucks, but scratch started it. - write something along the lines of "no ai art training", "do not reuse outside of scratch", etc, which won't really stop anything from scratch's side or override anything I said, but at least it's there. - finally, ask scratch for opt-out or clarification on their "ai" usage This isn't anything official like I'm not a super professional ToS reader digester but I wasn't aware of this and want to spread awareness about it Thank you for reading please add this to art studios to spread awareness! The ToS is made in a way that you don't really understand what you're agreeing to unless you really sit down and comb through it!
