This declaration was drafted by the founding members of Distributed Creatives in collaboration with creators across disciplines, in response to the unprecedented challenges facing creative work in the digital age. It represents our collective vision for a more equitable creative ecosystem and serves as both a statement of principles and a call to action.
We stand at a pivotal moment in history. The digital revolution has transformed how creative work is made, shared, and valued--bringing unprecedented opportunities alongside new forms of exploitation. Creators across all disciplines face mounting challenges: AI systems trained on our work without permission or compensation, complex value chains that direct profits away from those who create, platforms that control access to audiences, and technological systems designed to replace rather than empower human creativity. Even in the face of these challenges, we envision a future where creators thrive through fair compensation, ownership of their work, and meaningful connections with their audiences. We believe in a creative ecosystem built on transparency, choice, and respect--where technology empowers rather than exploits. We envision sustainable creative careers protected by appropriate safeguards, where AI and other technologies serve creators rather than replace them, and where the value generated from creative works flows primarily to those who create them.
This declaration establishes a framework for addressing the urgent challenges facing creators in the digital age. It serves as both a statement of principles and a set of specific demands to platforms, policymakers, and the technology industry.
This declaration emerges from a long history of creator advocacy movements, from the formation of guilds and unions in traditional creative industries to more recent digital rights initiatives. It builds upon the work of organizations like Creative Commons, which pioneered new licensing frameworks, while addressing gaps in current advocacy efforts--particularly around fair compensation and technological solutions.
The timing of this declaration is not accidental. The rapid advancement of generative AI in 2022-2024 created an urgent need for a unified creator response across disciplines. Traditional siloed approaches to creator advocacy have proven insufficient against the scale and speed of technological change. This declaration represents the first truly cross-disciplinary framework addressing both immediate creator needs and long-term structural change.
Declaration
Creatives are the spice which gives life it's meaning. Their value is beyond measure as they help show that the real worth isn't castles and fast cars but the moments when life sends a shiver down your spine. It's the glory of the high towers and tight curves of the road that send the heart a flutter. All the money is just a vehicle to chase your dreams. Without us there would be no castle, no car, no road, no science to engineer. A creative gives you permission to imagine. Without us all that's left are commercials and personal brands selling you how to become a successful personal brand. We're the value on the internet and in the world and they want to cut us out of the picture. They would love to have obedient glossy talent that always reads the perfect lines, doesn't need health insurance or to eat food. A talent that is cost effective to grow their ever expanding bottom line. That is a lifeless internet. We seek a wild and creative internet that aims not to exploit the creative whose bursting with energy ready and willing to make content but to empower them. Ecosystems that are designed to foster their creative careers not extract as much as possible from their work before they see any return for themselves. This is a call for creatives across all mediums, across the entire globe, to join together and claim the value that is rightfully ours. We call upon all allies of creatives to join the call as well. Together we can shake the foundation of this planet. The future belongs to the creatives.
Creative revolution or bust!!
Principle 1
Creators deserve fair compensation for their work, including when used for AI training.
The value generated by creative works should flow primarily to their creators. This isn't just about higher percentages--it's about restructuring how creative work is valued, licensed, and monetized across all platforms.
Principle 2
Creative work should not be used without explicit consent and proper attribution.
Creators have the right to determine how their work is used and shared. Attribution isn't just naming the creator--it's maintaining the connection between creators and their work across all uses.
Principle 3
Clear disclosure of how creative work is used, especially in AI and digital platforms.
Hidden algorithms and opaque usage terms hide how creative work is used and valued. We promote clear, understandable frameworks that creators can navigate without legal teams.
Principle 4
United creators have stronger negotiating power with platforms and corporations.
Individual creators often lack leverage against platforms and large corporations. By uniting across disciplines, we amplify our voices and negotiate from a position of strength.
Principle 5
Creators should understand the technologies that impact their work and rights.
The complexity of emerging technologies shouldn't exclude creators from understanding how their work is used. We provide education and clarity around technologies affecting creative work.
Principle 6
Creators must maintain control over their work and how it's used.
Creators must maintain control over how their work, likeness, voice, and intellectual identity are used in digital spaces. We defend the right of all creators to determine how their creative expressions and personal attributes are utilized.
Principle 7
Tools and opportunities should be accessible to creators from all backgrounds.
Creative tools and platforms often have barriers to entry that exclude creators based on geography, economic status, or background. We work to ensure equitable access to both creation and distribution tools.
Based on our principles, we make the following specific demands of platforms, policymakers, and the broader technology industry:
We demand fair compensation when creative works are used to train AI systems, with clear opt-in/opt-out mechanisms that give creators control over how their work is used in machine learning.
We demand transparent systems that track how creative work is used across platforms, with clear reporting on monetization and distribution that creators can easily access and understand.
We demand platforms that prioritize creator needs, with fair revenue sharing, clear terms, and direct relationships between creators and their audiences that aren't subject to arbitrary algorithm changes.
We demand recognition of creators' right to organize and negotiate collectively with platforms and corporations, regardless of employment status or creative discipline.
We demand equitable access to creative tools and distribution channels, with accommodations for creators from underrepresented communities and regions with limited technological infrastructure.
We demand copyright frameworks that address the realities of digital creation and AI, balancing protection for creators with the need for cultural exchange and creative innovation.
We demand explicit consent requirements for digital likeness and voice reproduction, ensuring creators maintain control over how their personal attributes are captured, stored, and used in digital media.
We demand legal frameworks protecting creators against unauthorized digital twins, preventing the simulation of creative styles, voices, and identities without permission and compensation.
We demand industry standards for performer scanning and digital replication that protect performers' rights, ensure fair compensation for future uses, and prevent exploitation of digital likenesses.
We are developing a suite of open-source tools and platforms that will enable creators to:
The declaration and its implementation will be governed by a distributed structure that includes:
All members have voting rights proportional to their level of participation, not financial contribution.
Phase 1: Foundation (Q4-2025)
Phase 2: Growth (2026-2027)
Phase 3: Transformation (2028+)
This declaration is a living document that will evolve as technology, creative practices, and industry conditions change. Amendments to this declaration will follow this process:
Major revisions will undergo a more extensive review process including impact assessments and consultation with affected creator communities.
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Add your voice to the call for creators worldwide to claim what's rightfully theirs.
Add your voice to the call for creators worldwide to claim what's rightfully theirs.