WorkThe story, in brief

George Clooney, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep back new ‘Human Consent Standard’ for AI licensing

Hollywood just forced AI's hand. A new licensing standard means every model startup will need to negotiate rights—or face legal fallout.

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People, judgement and the changing nature of work.AI illustration by KeyNews
The KeyNews take

Why it matters

The Human Consent Standard represents a shift in how AI training data governance will work at scale. This isn't academic—it's a concrete framework that will force AI labs and startups to implement consent-based licensing or risk litigation from major cultural IP holders.

The key facts

9 to know
  1. Human Consent Standard launched with backing from George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep

  2. Builds on Really Simple Licensing (RSL) Standard from 2025

  3. Allows creators to set terms: full permission, conditional access, or full restriction

  4. Applies to likeness, creative work, characters, and designs

  5. RSL Media is a nonprofit foundation managing the standard

  6. Policy framework with direct implications for AI training data sourcing

  7. Allows creators to set three permission levels: full access, conditional access, or full restriction

  8. Framework covers likenesses, creative work, characters, and designs

  9. RSL Media is a nonprofit managing the standard

Go to the source

The Verge AItheverge.com

Publisher excerpt: Hollywood actors and producers are standing behind a new AI licensing standard that will tell AI systems whether they'll need to pay to use a person's likeness, creative work, characters, and designs. With the Human Consent Standard, people can set terms for the use of their work or likeness,…
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