As AI models continue to train on vast amounts of online content, publishers are facing a growing reality: their work is being used to power new products, often without permission, visibility, or compensation. A new open standard, Really Simple Licensing (RSL), is emerging as a practical way to change that dynamic.

In a recent article, “A Line in the Sand”: How Publishers Can Use RSL to Assert Their Rights in the Age of AI, Supertab CEO Cosmin Ene explains how RSL gives publishers a clear, enforceable way to declare how AI systems can use their content, and when payment is required. Built on existing web infrastructure like robots.txt, RSL moves beyond passive signals to establish explicit terms for AI training and usage.

Cosmin describes RSL as a shift from silence to participation: a way for publishers to assert that professionally produced content has value and should be part of the AI revenue model. With major media organizations already adopting the protocol, RSL is quickly becoming a foundational tool for publishers who want clarity, leverage, and a path toward monetization.

At Supertab, we’re working closely with the RSL Collective to help publishers implement and manage RSL, turning AI content usage from an invisible drain into something measurable, understandable, and ultimately negotiable.

Read the full article to learn how RSL works, why publishers are acting now, and what this means for the future of AI and content licensing.