Open source is being exploited by AI.
Large language models are trained on billions of lines of open-source code — often without attribution, compensation, or consent. Developers share their work freely to help other humans, not to fuel billion-dollar AI companies.
Traditional licenses (MIT, GPL, Apache) were written before AI training was a thing. They don't address this problem. We need something new.
This license is in early development. V1 is legal text only — it states the terms but relies on enforcement by developers. Future versions will add technical watermarking to make violations detectable. This is not legal advice. Use at your own discretion.
Two-layer protection system.
The Robotic License uses a dual approach: legal terms backed by technical enforcement.
Legal Framework Only
Version 1 establishes the core legal terms:
- Code can be used, modified, and distributed freely for human use
- Code cannot be used to train AI models or LLMs
- Code cannot be fed into AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) for training purposes
- Violations are subject to legal action under copyright law
This version relies on legal enforcement. If someone violates the license, you'd need to pursue them through legal channels. It's honor-system with teeth.
Watermark ID System
Version 2 will add technical enforcement through embedded watermarks:
- Developers request a unique watermark ID from our website
- The ID is embedded in code comments or variable names
- If an AI model ingests the code, the watermark may cause detectable artifacts in generated output
- Cross-matching tools can detect if your code was used in training
This is still theoretical. We're researching how to make watermarks durable, detectable, and non-invasive. Expect this in a future release.
Adding the license to your code.
Include the Robotic License at the top of your repository or in a LICENSE file:
/**
* This code is licensed under the Robotic License v1.0
* Full text: https://charlesraiders.xyz/robotic-license.txt
*
* Summary:
* - Free to use, modify, and distribute for human use
* - Cannot be used to train AI models or LLMs
* - Cannot be fed into AI assistants for training
*
* Watermark ID: [request your ID at charlesraiders.xyz/robotic]
*/
function example() {
// Your code here
}The watermark ID line is optional for v1 but will be required for v2 enforcement.
Request your unique ID.
Once v2 launches, you'll be able to request a watermark ID here. For now, this feature is disabled while we finalize the technical implementation.
Your ID will be a short alphanumeric string that you embed in your code. It's designed to be unobtrusive but detectable if an AI model ingests your work.
Download the License
Version 1.0 is currently being finalized. The full license text will be available here soon.
Download License v1.0 (Coming Soon) Request Watermark ID (Coming Soon)