Helping to Develop and Launch Responsible Generative AI Foundation Models for Commercial Use

Envato has partnered with BRIA AI to help develop and launch one of the first licensed visual Generative AI foundation models for commercial use, that facilitates compensation for creators whose work is being used to train the model.

On 1 June, 2023,  we updated our Elements Author Agreement and the Envato Market Author Terms enabling us to explore new opportunities for Envato and the community. At the time, we referenced reseller arrangements, integrating content into creative tools and creating responsible AI models as just some of the possible opportunities we were exploring.

As technology transforms the way we create and consume content, our goal has been to embrace these changes while continuing to support you, our author community. Generative AI for example, has raised challenges relating to copyright and ownership, as well as regulatory issues. So it’s important to us to identify opportunities where we can help overcome these challenges and shape a more responsible approach.   

Which brings us to our latest update.

Today we’re excited to announce a partnership with BRIA AI and their release of a suite of responsible generative AI foundational models, providing new opportunities and potential future revenue streams for our author community.

Who is BRIA AI and what do they do?

BRIA AI is a visual generative AI company that offers visual generative AI pre-trained foundation models, including source code and weights, APIs, and development productivity tools. They aim to empower developers and AI teams with sustainable generative AI technologies, while upholding safety, copyright and privacy compliance. 

Importantly, BRIA AI’s focus is on training image-generating AI with licensed content and facilitating the compensation of creatives whose work is used and attributed in the models. This means that once the models are in commercial use and are generating content based on the training received from licensed sources, the original creators are able to receive a share of revenue. 

This emphasis on responsible practices is at the core of BRIA AI’s mission, setting a standard that helps the creative industry to flourish alongside the advancements of AI technology.

How are Envato and BRIA AI working together?

We have provided BRIA AI with photos, still images (taken from stock video) and graphics to use in their suite of visual generative AI foundation models and to commence training those models. In addition to Envato, Getty Images and Alamy have also licensed content to the models.

BRIA AI is focused on building a viable, responsible AI model that can serve the diverse needs of creative customers. Once the model is commercialized and generates content using items provided by Envato as part of its training, it is intended that the model will facilitate attribution of this use to Envato and provide revenue for part of that content creation. In turn, Envato intends to share this revenue with the author(s) of the item(s) that are attributed as part of the training.

It’s an exciting way for us to explore new avenues together, and for your work to be recognized and rewarded.

What are the goals of this partnership with BRIA AI?

Together with BRIA AI, our goals are to:

• Provide additional revenue to our author community: this attribution aims to allow financial compensation to our community, giving them a unique opportunity to benefit from the advancements of AI technology.

• Take a responsible step into the world of Generative AI: we’re staying at the forefront of technology while looking out for our creative community. We aim to ensure that responsible practices and creator welfare remain at the forefront.

• Promote responsible AI Models and protect Author IP: y using a responsible AI model that is rooted in licensed content, we ensure that the intellectual property of our authors is respected and protected.

By working together, we hope to create a sustainable ecosystem where technological advancements and responsible practices go hand in hand. And importantly, where we are setting a standard for the responsible use of AI technology in the creative industry.

Our partnership with BRIA AI is just the beginning of this journey.

For further information about BRIA AI and this partnership, head to BRIA AI’s website or the press release.

FAQs

Q. Why have we chosen to partner with BRIA AI?

A. We strongly believe that there is a need for AI tools that appropriately recognize and compensate the creators of content that is attributed to and trained on. Our shared vision with BRIA AI paves the way for a collaboration that aligns our ethical standards and creates new revenue streams for our community.

Q. What’s happened so far?

A. Current work has been focused on building viable, responsible AI models that can serve the diverse needs of creative customers. To date, this has involved training BRIA AI’s text-to-image models using high quality photo and still images from stock video items, with appropriate rights. The launch of these models will make them accessible to developers and businesses – opening up the potential for commercial use.

Q. How will I know if my items are used and when would I see income from this?

A. Once the model is commercialized and is generating content using items provided by Envato as part of its training, it is intended that it will attribute this use to Envato and in turn facilitate a mechanism for Envato to provide revenue for part of that content creation. In turn, Envato intends to share this revenue with the author(s) of the item(s) that are attributed as part of the training of the content created. If you are one of these authors, you will begin to see revenue from this source listed under “Other Royalties” on your monthly earnings statement. As the revenue will be based on commercial use, we cannot provide an exact timeline–it could be any time from now into the future. 

Q. Which items are included in this partnership?

A. Our contribution to BRIA’s training data consists of visual content drawn from Envato Elements. These are a combination of  photos, still images (taken from stock video) and graphics.

Q. Will all items that have been provided to BRIA AI generate revenue for the author?

A. Only if your item is used in generating a final product that is monetized. You would then receive a proportionate compensation.

Q. Will this partnership involve any other item types?

A. At this point the partnership with BRIA AI is specific to photos, still images (taken from stock video) and graphics.

Q. Can I sell AI-generated items through Envato?

A. Not at this stage – our AI-generated Content Policy for Market and Elements still restricts the use of AI-generated assets to item preview purposes only, and they must not be included in the download file. As the field of AI-generated content is rapidly changing, these guidelines may also be updated over time.