Cureus Updates Copyright Policy to Address AI Use

Originally published August 25, 2025.

Cureus has updated its Terms and Conditions to restrict the use of Site Content in combination with artificial intelligence, including for AI training, data mining, and generating outputs or derivative works. The policy reflects Cureus' stance that scholarly work should not be used for these AI-related purposes without authorization.

Why is Cureus updating its copyright policy?

As AI systems increasingly rely on published material for training and content generation, questions about how AI companies use scholarly work have become pressing for authors and publishers.

When published work is used to train AI systems without authorization, authors may have little visibility into how their work is incorporated, attributed, or used in resulting outputs. We believe authors are at the forefront of intellectual expression, innovation, and human advancement. Because authors' work deserves protection, we're updating our Terms and Conditions to restrict AI usage.

What does the Cureus policy say about AI use?

To establish clear limits on the use of Cureus Site Content with artificial intelligence, the updated Terms and Conditions state: "In connection with your Use of the Site Content, you must: …not use the Site Content in combination with artificial intelligence, including, without limitation, to train an algorithm, machine learning tool, or other artificial intelligence technology; to conduct data mining; or to generate any output or derivative work based on Site Content."

Cureus also restricts AI training crawlers, such as GPTBot and CCBot, from accessing its published articles, while still allowing AI search tools to surface and cite Cureus content. This reflects its broader approach to protecting authorship and promoting responsible use of scholarly content.

Why is Cureus taking an author-first approach to AI?

Cureus was built to democratize medical publishing while respecting the doctors, scientists, educators, clinicians, and researchers whose scholarship makes that mission possible.

As AI technologies continue to evolve, scholarly publishing will need clear standards for how human-authored research and intellectual contributions are used. By updating our terms and conditions, Cureus is taking a clear stand for authorship and responsible use of scholarly content.