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Ask HN: OSS licence like Apache2, but No for AI training data?

by erdo on 4/20/23, 9:43 PM with 4 comments

Is there an OSS licence, similar to Apache2, but that restricts the ability for the code to be used in AI training data

I maintain a few small Apache 2 libraries, I'm not sure how I feel about my code being used for AI training data.

Would such a licence even makes sense? If not, what's the most permissive licence you could have that still restricts use of the code in AI training data?

And what might be some unintended consequences of restricting the ability for your code to be used in that way (assuming that's legally possible - and I do appreciate that it's probably practically impossible)

  • by josephcsible on 4/20/23, 10:37 PM

    There's no such thing and there never can be. Any license that bans a specific use like that would be in violation of both the Free Software Definition and the Open Source Definition.

  • by brucethemoose2 on 4/20/23, 10:07 PM

    Also, my 2c:

    Using Apache 2.0 basically means you are indifferent about what others use your code for. I don't see why AI training should be an exception... there are much more nefarious uses.

  • by satvikpendem on 4/21/23, 3:29 AM

    If you want that, make your own proprietary license. It would be no different that what other companies are doing. But know that your license would likely stop many other users from using your product as well as not be open source anymore, by both the FSF and OS definitions.

  • by brucethemoose2 on 4/20/23, 10:02 PM

    > And what might be some unintended consequences of restricting the ability for your code to be used in that way (assuming that's legally possible - and I do appreciate that it's probably practically impossible)

    It would poison other (human) users of your code with your license.