Global Tech Giants Collaborate on AI Ethics Framework
Global technology leaders have jointly launched the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) Standard and RSL Collective to establish a unified framework for ethical AI content use and compensation, marking a major step in AI governance.
Global technology giants, including Reddit, Yahoo, People Inc., Internet Brands, Ziff Davis, Fastly, Quora, O’Reilly Media, and Medium, announced on September 10, 2025, the launch of the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) Standard and the nonprofit RSL Collective rights organization. This initiative aims to create a unified, open framework for licensing digital content to AI systems, ensuring fair compensation for publishers and creators while providing clear, scalable terms for AI companies.
The RSL Standard, modeled after the widely adopted RSS protocol, is designed to automate content licensing for the AI-first internet. It enables millions of websites to set transparent terms for how their content is used by AI crawlers and agents, addressing longstanding concerns about unauthorized data scraping and the lack of compensation for original content creators. The protocol is available for free to any website, promoting broad adoption and industry-wide consistency.
Industry Response and Ethical Implications
Executives from participating companies emphasized the significance of the RSL framework in shaping the future of digital content and AI ethics. Steve Huffman, CEO of Reddit, stated, "The RSL Standard gives publishers and platforms a clear, scalable way to set licensing terms in the AI era." Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., highlighted the need for "world class digital creators" to be fairly compensated, noting that RSL moves the industry beyond simply blocking unauthorized crawlers to setting licensing terms for all AI use cases. Matt Sanchez, COO of Yahoo, described the standard as "a common language, a shared standard, and a path forward that ensures quality is rewarded, access is protected, and fairness scales with innovation."
The launch comes amid growing scrutiny of AI companies regarding ethical practices, transparency, and financial sustainability. Recent controversies, such as OpenAI’s shift from nonprofit to capped-profit status and legal investigations into its restructuring, have underscored the urgent need for robust ethical frameworks and industry-wide standards. The RSL initiative seeks to address these challenges by providing a transparent mechanism for content licensing and compensation, potentially setting a precedent for future AI governance.
Regulatory Context and Global Impact
The RSL Standard’s introduction aligns with broader regulatory efforts to manage AI’s impact on society. Lawmakers and industry experts have called for strong federal frameworks to protect stakeholders while encouraging innovation, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare. The RSL Collective’s approach—open, decentralized, and scalable—offers a model that could inform regulatory strategies worldwide, balancing the interests of creators, platforms, and AI developers.
By automating licensing and compensation, the RSL framework aims to foster trust and collaboration between content creators and AI companies, mitigating risks of copyright infringement and ethical lapses. Its adoption by major tech firms signals a collective commitment to responsible AI development and content stewardship, setting the stage for more equitable and transparent digital ecosystems.