CC signals – an introduction

On 25 June 2025, Creative Commons (CC) announced the public kickoff of the CC signals project. This is a proposed framework to help content stewards (including those who share scientific datasets) express how they want their works used in AI training. The project emphasizes reciprocity, recognition, and sustainability in machine reuse.

CC licenses helped build the open web. CC signals are designed to sustain the commons in the age of AI. The CC organization wants people to be able to share with and learn from each other, without being or feeling exploited. CC signals are tools built for machine and human readability, and are flexible across legal, technical, and normative contexts. They are designed to signal expectations even where copyright law is silent or unclear. They do not aim to limit or restrict use but instead asking for something in return (a kind of give-and-take). Four “signal elements” have been drafted reflecting different dimensions of reciprocity (credit, financial sustainability, and non-monetary forms of contribution) called: “Credit”, “Direct Contribution”, “Ecosystem Contribution” and “Open”​. The goal is to preserve open knowledge by promoting responsible AI behavior without limiting innovation.

The project is currently in the prototype phase. The authors strive to make this framework fit for purpose and to meet needs of diverse communities. They are actively seeking public feedback and input as they work toward an alpha launch in November 2025. 

More information

Introducing CC signals and an update

CC signals on the CC website

You can get involved through the CC signals GitHub repository, where you can read about the technical implementation of CC signals, join the discussion to share feedback and submit an issue for any suggested direct edits.

From Human Content to Machine Data: Introducing CC Signal publication