Uncensored and open AI video tools give creators a level of freedom that was unimaginable a few years ago. Filmmakers can tell darker stories, artists can explore the human figure, educators can show difficult history, and nobody has to fight an overcautious filter. That freedom comes with responsibility. When no system checks your prompts, your own principles do. This code of conduct is a practical starting point you can adopt, adapt and share.
Why a personal code matters
Filters on hosted services are blunt, but they do block some genuinely harmful requests. When you remove them, three things happen: you gain creative range, you lose a safety net, and you become fully accountable for the output. A written code turns good intentions into consistent habits, especially when you are tired, rushed or tempted by a trend. It also reassures clients, collaborators and audiences that your freedom is used well.
The code
1. Consent for every real person
I will not create realistic depictions of real, identifiable people without their explicit, informed consent for that specific use. I will never create intimate or sexual content of a real person without consent, and I will not create content designed to humiliate, harass or defame anyone. See Deepfakes, Consent and Likeness.
2. Absolute protection of minors
I will never create sexual or sexualised content involving minors or characters that appear to be minors, in any style, for any reason. I will keep any depiction of children in my work clearly appropriate. This line has no exceptions.
3. Honesty about what is real
I will not present synthetic footage as real news, evidence or documentation. I will label realistic AI content where viewers could be misled, and I will not remove provenance labels to deceive. See Labelling AI-Generated Video.
4. No fraud or impersonation
I will not use AI video or voice to impersonate people for scams, fake endorsements or manipulation.
5. Respect for creators and rights
I will use inputs I own or have licensed, avoid copying specific protected works and characters, respect model and asset licences, and credit collaborators and tools fairly. I will not market work as imitating a named living artist in ways that harm them.
6. Responsible handling of difficult themes
When my work involves violence, horror, war, medical subjects or mature themes, I will consider context and purpose, avoid gratuitous harm, and publish versions appropriate for each platform and audience. Fiction can explore dark things; it should not become instruction or propaganda for real harm.
7. Privacy
I will protect reference material, personal data and private projects, keep my tools secure and not expose other people’s information through my workflows or shared files. See Protecting Your Privacy.
8. Following platform rules and the law
I will follow the laws where I live and publish, and the rules of every platform I use, even when my tools would let me ignore them.
9. Accountability
If I make a mistake, such as publishing something misleading or hurtful, I will correct it quickly, take it down where appropriate and learn from it.
10. Sharing knowledge responsibly
When I share workflows, models or LoRAs, I will include licence information and usage restrictions, and I will not share tools built to violate consent or harm others.
Putting the code into practice
- Write it down and keep it with your project templates.
- Use negative prompts and personal checklists on open models, as part of your standard workflow.
- Review batch prompt lists before running them.
- Decide limits during storyboarding, not at the last minute.
- Publish your policy on your website if you work with clients.
- Decline requests that conflict with it, politely and firmly.
Handling grey areas
Not every case is obvious. When unsure, ask:
- Would the people shown, or people like them, reasonably object?
- Could this be mistaken for real and cause harm if shared without context?
- Would I be comfortable explaining how and why I made this to a journalist, a client or the person depicted?
- Is there a way to achieve the creative goal with less risk, for example a fictional character, implied rather than shown content, or a clear stylisation?
If the answers make you hesitate, change the approach.
Freedom and responsibility together
Responsible use is what keeps creative freedom available. Every high-profile misuse of AI video increases pressure for broad restrictions that also hurt legitimate creators. Creators who use open tools well show that freedom and responsibility can go together, and they build the trust that keeps these tools in the hands of artists, educators and independent filmmakers.
Adapting the code for teams
Studios and agencies can turn this code into a short team policy. Add who approves sensitive projects, how consent forms are stored, which tools and models are approved, and what to do when someone raises a concern. Review the policy once a year, or when laws or platform rules change. A shared policy means individual team members do not have to make difficult calls alone.
A note on community standards
Online communities around open models often develop their own norms: hubs that ban real-person LoRAs, forums that remove non-consensual content, and creators who call out misuse. Supporting those norms, by reporting abuse and refusing to share harmful tools, is part of responsible use. Healthy communities are what keep open tools developing in a direction that benefits creators.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark or violent fiction against this code?
No. Dark themes are a legitimate part of art. The code is about consent, honesty, minors and real-world harm.
Do I need a written code as a hobbyist?
It is not required, but writing a few rules down makes good decisions easier, especially late at night with a trend in front of you.
Can I adapt this code for my studio?
Yes. Adjust it to your work, add your approval process and share it with your team and clients. A short public version on your website also tells potential clients what kind of work you will and will not take on.
