WeTransfer Backlash: Why Creatives Are Leaving and Turning to Kurator

The Terms That Sparked a Firestorm

In late June 2025, WeTransfer quietly updated its Terms of Service, adding a sweeping clause that granted itself a perpetual, worldwide, royalty‑free license to use, modify, distribute, and sublicense any files uploaded to its platform. This raised alarms across the creative community, with users fearing their files might be used to train AI models or repurposed for other undisclosed uses.

While WeTransfer claimed these changes were made to improve its platform and moderate content, the language used in the update was broad enough to leave room for serious misinterpretation.

Creatives React: “We’re Done Here”

The backlash was immediate. Reddit forums, X threads, and Discord channels lit up with complaints. A post on r/editors summed it up:

“This clause gives them the right to copy, modify, distribute, and even use our work to train their AI. That’s not acceptable.”

This wasn't just a niche concern. Voiceover artists, photographers, video editors, and even advertising agencies began advising peers to avoid the platform.

Damage Control: WeTransfer Walks It Back (Sort Of)

Following widespread criticism, WeTransfer revised its terms again and issued a public statement saying they will not use user content to train AI models. However, the clause granting a broad license to use and distribute content remains, albeit now “only to operate and improve the platform.”

Despite this clarification, many creatives no longer felt safe. The trust had been eroded.

Why It Matters: Trust is the Real Currency

Even with the changes rolled back, the damage was done. For many, the question isn’t whether a platform can use your content—it’s whether you trust them not to, even when the legal language allows it.

What Creatives Should Do Now

Here’s how to protect your work moving forward:

• Encrypt your files before upload. ZIP + password protects you from internal access.
• Check the ToS. Don’t assume platforms respect your IP unless it’s explicitly stated.
• Use platforms designed for creatives. Generic file transfer tools aren’t built for IP protection.
• Back up your content off-platform. Cloud drives or physical copies ensure you're not tied to one provider.

Kurator: Built to Protect Creators, Not Exploit Them

At Kurator, we believe creators deserve clarity, control, and compensation—not fine print:

• You retain full copyright. Kurator never claims rights beyond what’s needed to license your content fairly.
• No AI training without consent. We do not—and will not—train models on your content.
• Transparent licensing. Rights are clearly labeled: editorial or commercial, not buried in vague terms.
• You choose where your content goes. You decide what gets licensed, how it’s licensed, and for what purpose.
• Built-in monetization. Your footage is immediately searchable and available to license, giving you a new revenue stream without giving up control.

Final Word: Don’t Settle for Unclear Terms

The WeTransfer controversy is a reminder that when a platform is free, the content might not be. Your creative work is your intellectual property—and it deserves to be protected, valued, and monetized on your terms.

Kurator offers a better way forward. Whether you’re a filmmaker, designer, journalist, or editor, you can upload your work with confidence and license it ethically.

Explore the future of content licensing at Kurator.com