AI Training Rights in Model Releases: What Photographers Need to Know in 2026
Updated October 2026
A release may not explicitly address whether images can be used to train a machine-learning model. Photographers and models should discuss the intended uses before signing. A written statement of AI-training permissions helps record their agreement; it does not settle every copyright, privacy, or likeness-rights question.
This guide explains the AI-training default in our release and distinguishes training permissions from rules about digital replicas. It is general information, not legal advice or a statement that this template satisfies every applicable requirement.
Why record AI-training permissions explicitly?
Releases often grant rights to “use, reproduce, and publish” images. Whether a particular agreement permits AI training depends on its wording, the intended use, and applicable law. An explicit statement can help the parties record what they agreed, without guaranteeing that all necessary rights have been obtained.
This cuts both ways. If you want AI training rights, say so. If you (or the model) want to withhold them, the release should deny them by default and grant them only where the scope of use spells it out.
Digital-replica rules are distinct from training permissions
California’s AB 2602 took effect January 1, 2025 and concerns certain contract provisions for digital replicas in personal or professional services. New York’s Fashion Workers Act also addresses digital replicas: the state Department of Labor describes separate written consent covering the scope, purpose, rate of pay, and duration of a replica’s use.
These rules address particular uses and relationships. They do not establish that every photo release needs the same AI-training clause, or that a general training permission satisfies digital-replica requirements. Check the rules relevant to the planned use before relying on a template.
How to grant — or deny — AI rights cleanly
Our standard release denies AI-training rights unless the scope of use explicitly grants them. Review that scope with the model before signing. This describes the template’s terms; it is not a guarantee that the template is appropriate for every shoot or jurisdiction.
If AI training is intended, describe the proposed use and any limits clearly before signing. Compensation, separate consent, and other requirements may depend on the work and applicable law. Have the agreement reviewed for the intended use when a general template does not address those requirements.
Common questions
- Does a standard model release cover AI training?
- It depends on the agreement and applicable law. Our standard template denies AI-training rights unless the scope of use explicitly grants them. Review any other release’s actual wording instead of assuming it has the same default.
- Should models be paid more for AI training rights?
- Do not assume a blanket answer. Compensation and consent requirements depend on the agreement, intended use, and applicable law. Record the agreed terms and check any rules that apply to digital replicas or the particular work.
- I shoot for stock — do agencies want AI rights now?
- Increasingly some agencies license content for AI training and have separate programs for it. Check your agency’s contributor terms. If you submit to an AI-licensing program, use a release that grants AI training rights explicitly.
Skip the paperwork
Send your model a link or hand over your phone in kiosk mode. The signed release lands in both inboxes — timestamped and locked. Free for your first three releases a month.
Get an AI-training model release templateRelated guides
- Do You Need a Model Release? A Photographer’s Guide
- What Makes a Model Release Legally Valid (and Hold Up in a Dispute)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Model-release law varies by country and US state — adapt to your jurisdiction and consult a lawyer for high-stakes uses.