Microsoft is developing an app store for AI content licensing.

Microsoft is developing the Publisher Content Marketplace (PCM), an AI licensing hub designed to clarify usage terms set by content creators. This platform will allow AI companies to easily navigate these terms and establish agreements for utilizing online content to enhance their AI models, while content owners receive usage-based reporting to assist in pricing.

The PCM is being co-designed with various organizations, including Vox Media, The Associated Press, Condé Nast, and People. The surge in AI development has often relied on content that was used without compensation, prompting many of these publishers to pursue legal action or negotiate licensing agreements as traffic from traditional sources declines. Notably, some, such as The New York Times and The Intercept, have initiated copyright lawsuits against both Microsoft and OpenAI.

Additionally, there is a publisher-supported open standard known as Really Simple Licensing (RSL), which establishes a framework to ensure the sustainability of the digital media industry in the AI era. This standard integrates licensing terms directly into a publisher’s website, specifying how bots should compensate for scraping their content.

When asked about potential interactions between RSL and PCM, a Microsoft spokesperson indicated that the company intends to collaborate closely with publishing partners during the pilot phase, though no specific details were available at this time.

Microsoft emphasizes that this initiative will ensure “publishers will be paid on delivered value, and AI builders gain scalable access to licensed premium content that enhances their products.” The PCM aims to accommodate publishers of all sizes, from large corporations to independent outlets.

According to Microsoft, the open web was founded on an implicit value exchange where publishers provided accessible content, and distribution channels like search engines facilitated its discovery. However, this model does not seamlessly transition into an AI-driven landscape, where information is increasingly presented in conversational formats.

The company has begun onboarding partners, including Yahoo, as it continues to pilot the marketplace and seeks to broaden its reach.