Really Simple Licensing for Content Creators

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Really Simple Licensing for Content Creators

Inspired by a conversation on:

This Week in Startups

This Week in Startups

Why Medium is HIDING from AI | E2179

Host: Jason Calacanis

Timestamp: 00:01:40 - 00:04:25

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Direct Quote

"One of the companies that's signed on to RSL is Medium, along with Reddit and Yahoo and others."

Market Gap

Content creators struggle to receive fair compensation from AI companies.

As AI technologies increasingly leverage online content for training and inference, many content creators feel they are being unfairly compensated, or not compensated at all, for their work. This has led to a significant concern regarding the sustainability of quality content on the internet. Content creators, who invest time and effort into producing their work, often see their content used without any direct benefit or attribution. Current models do not equitably account for the value that creators bring, leading to dissatisfaction and a potential decline in quality content. The lack of an organized system for fair compensation exacerbates this issue, raising the stakes for both creators and platforms.

Summary

The Really Simple Licensing (RSL) initiative aims to create a framework for licensing online content fairly among creators, publishers, and AI companies. By establishing a standardized approach to compensation, RSL seeks to ensure that writers and content creators are fairly paid for their work when AI companies utilize their content. This initiative, backed by platforms like Medium, Reddit, and Yahoo, emphasizes the importance of fair attribution and compensation in the age of AI. By negotiating with AI companies to create a system that benefits all parties, RSL aims to protect the interests of content creators while fostering a sustainable online ecosystem.

Categorization

Business Model
Marketplace
Target Founder
Subject Matter Expert
Difficulty
Medium
Time to Revenue
6-12 months
Initial Investment
$1,000-$10,000

Potential MRR (18-24 months)

Conservative
$5,000 - $10,000 MRR
Moderate (Most Likely)
$10,000 - $25,000 MRR
Optimistic
$30,000 - $50,000 MRR

* Estimates assume solo founder/bootstrap scenario with competent execution

Scores

Clarity
8/10
Novelty
7/10
Feasibility
6/10
Market Potential
9/10
Evidence
8/10
Overall
7.6/10
Found on September 19, 2025 • Analyzed on September 19, 2025 3:48 AM

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