Can I legally prevent agencies from using my work to train AI?

Yes. You must explicitly include a 'No AI Training' clause in your Master Services Agreement (MSA) or Statement of Work (SOW) that prohibits the use of your deliverables as input data for machine learning models.

What specific language should I use to restrict AI training?

Use language that defines 'Deliverables' as confidential information and explicitly excludes them from any license grant that allows for the training, testing, or improvement of artificial intelligence or machine learning systems.

A TermScore is an AI-generated risk rating from 0 to 100 that evaluates the fairness and risk level of any legal document. A score of 86-100 means the contract is highly favorable, while 0-30 indicates dangerous terms you should walk away from.

What types of documents can TermScore analyze?

TermScore analyzes any legal document including freelance contracts, employment agreements, residential leases, NDAs, brand sponsorship deals, SaaS vendor agreements, and rental applications. Upload PDFs, Word documents, or images.

How much does TermScore cost?

TermScore offers a free plan with 3 scores per month. The Team plan is $15/month for 30 scores, and the Professional plan is $50/month for 500 scores with team collaboration features.

Is my document data secure?

Yes. Documents are processed in memory and analysis results are stored encrypted. TermScore never shares your document data with third parties and you can delete your data at any time from your dashboard.

Legally restrict agencies from training AI models on freelance deliverables

How to Legally Restrict Agencies from Training AI on Your Work

To legally prevent agencies from using your freelance deliverables to train AI models, you must include an explicit restrictive covenant in your contract. Standard intellectual property clauses are insufficient; you must specifically prohibit the use of your work as input data for machine learning, generative AI, or algorithmic training.

The Legal Framework for AI Data Protection

Most standard freelance contracts grant the client a 'perpetual, irrevocable license' to use your work. In the era of LLMs, agencies are interpreting these broad licenses as permission to feed your creative output into their proprietary or third-party AI models. To stop this, you must narrow the scope of the license.

Key Contractual Clauses to Implement

Explicit Prohibition: Add a clause stating: 'Client shall not use, or permit any third party to use, the Deliverables for the purpose of training, testing, or refining any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automated model.'
Confidentiality Expansion: Define all raw files, drafts, and final deliverables as 'Confidential Information' that cannot be uploaded to public or private AI platforms.
Data Usage Restrictions: Explicitly state that the license granted to the client is for 'commercial use and distribution' only, and does not include 'data mining, machine learning, or algorithmic training rights.'

Key takeaway: If your contract does not explicitly mention 'AI training' or 'machine learning,' assume the agency will claim the right to use your work as training data under a broad 'usage' clause.

Action Item: Review your current MSA for the term 'derivative works.' If it is defined broadly, ensure you add an exclusion for AI training models.

Comparing Standard vs. AI-Protected Clauses

Clause Type	Standard Language	AI-Protected Language
License Grant	Perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free.	Limited to commercial use; excludes AI training.
Data Usage	Client may use data for any purpose.	Client shall not use work for model training.
IP Ownership	Work-for-hire.	Work-for-hire, excluding AI training rights.

Jurisdictional Considerations

While contract law is generally governed by the jurisdiction specified in your agreement, AI-specific regulations are evolving. In the EU, the AI Act provides some transparency requirements, but in the US, contract law remains the primary defense for freelancers.

Steps to Enforce Your Rights

Audit Existing Contracts: Identify all active MSAs and check for 'Data Usage' or 'License' sections.
Draft an Addendum: If you cannot renegotiate the entire contract, issue a 'Notice of Intellectual Property Restriction' as an addendum.
Monitor Deliverables: Use watermarking or metadata to track if your work appears in AI-generated outputs.
Demand Indemnification: Ensure the contract includes an indemnification clause if the agency breaches these terms and your work is leaked into a public model.

Key takeaway: Always specify that the restriction applies to both the agency and any 'third-party service providers' they use, as many agencies outsource AI processing to external vendors.

Action Item: Add a 'Prohibited Use' section to your standard SOW template today to ensure all future projects are covered by default.

Why Manual Review is No Longer Enough

Legal language regarding AI is becoming increasingly complex, with agencies hiding 'data harvesting' rights in dense paragraphs of legalese. Manually scanning dozens of pages for these specific risks is prone to human error. TermScore automatically analyzes your contracts to flag these exact AI-training loopholes, ensuring you never sign away your intellectual property rights unknowingly.