Our Goals
We are a technology company with a broader mission to protect creative professionals and ensure their rights are respected in the age of generative AI. Our work spans education, tooling, legislation, and advocacy to bring meaningful change to how creative content is treated in AI training.
Education: Conduct research and share findings on data sources of generative AI models. We aim to shine a light on the datasets that feed generative AI, making sure artists and creators understand where and how their works are being used. Transparency is key, and we’re committed to uncovering and documenting the specifics of data sourcing in AI training.
Tooling: Provide tools to give content creators more control over how their content is used, remixed, and monetized. Our tools, like the DTOM watermark, empower creators to opt out of having their work used in AI training datasets. We also aim to develop additional tools that help manage content rights, track unauthorized usage, and explore ways for creators to benefit financially from the use of their content.
Legislation: Facilitate legislative change with effective petitions in participating countries. We are committed to pushing for stronger protections for creators’ rights through the legislative process. By organizing petitions, collaborating with advocacy groups, and supporting relevant bills, we aim to influence policies that mandate respect for content creators’ preferences and ensure their rights are upheld.
Advocacy: Encourage social media companies and other organizations that train on image data to comply with the DTOM tag. Through public awareness campaigns and targeted advocacy, we aim to inspire these companies to respect creators’ opt-out choices. By making non-compliance a public issue, we can work to ensure that companies prioritize artists’ rights and actively choose to support ethical AI development.
Don’t Train on Me (DTOM) FAQ
1. What is the DTOM watermark?
The DTOM watermark is a signal embedded in your images that communicates to AI systems and companies that your creative work should not be used for AI training. It can be added invisibly in the metadata or as a visible watermark to clearly express your intent.
2. How does the DTOM watermark work?
The DTOM watermark uses advanced concealment techniques to embed a "do not train" declaration directly into your images. The invisible watermark persists through common modifications like resizing and cropping, making it difficult for adversaries to remove without severely affecting the quality of the image.
3. What types of content can the DTOM watermark be used on?
The DTOM watermark can currently be used on digital image files only, including artwork, illustrations, and photographs. Supported file types include common image formats PNG, JPEG, and GIF. It is designed to work across a wide range of visual content types to protect creators from unauthorized use in AI training datasets.
4. Is the DTOM watermark visible on my images?
You have the option of adding an invisible watermark that is only machine-readable, or a visible watermark with the DTOM logo that everyone can see. The choice is up to you, depending on how visibly you want to communicate your opt-out preference.
5. How can I add the DTOM watermark to my images?
We provide a free tool that allows you to add the DTOM watermark to your images, and to check for a DTOM watermark on an image. The tool is simple to use, and it embeds the watermark in the metadata or as a visible overlay, depending on your preference.
6. Why should I use the DTOM watermark?
Using the DTOM watermark allows you to maintain control over how your creative work is used. It communicates that your content should not be included in AI training datasets without your consent, helping to protect your rights as a creator and prevent economic loss from misuse of your art.
7. Can the DTOM watermark be removed by AI companies?
The DTOM watermark is designed to be robust against common image modifications, such as resizing or cropping. Removing it without significantly degrading the quality of the image is difficult, making it an effective way to protect your work.
8. Is using the DTOM watermark legally binding?
While it may not be legally binding yet, it helps create a standard that pushes for compliance and sets the groundwork for broader legal recognition.
9. How can I ensure that companies respect the DTOM watermark?
We believe in advocacy and public awareness. By making non-compliance a public issue, we encourage companies to respect creators' rights. Our goal is to establish DTOM as an industry standard, backed by legislation that compels compliance.
10. How can I support the DTOM initiative?
You can support the DTOM initiative by joining our movement, using the watermark on your images, and spreading the word to other creators. Sign up here to be part of the campaign and help us advocate for creators’ rights in the AI age.
How does the DTOM watermark differ from other watermarks (e.g. Glaze, ArtShield)?