MS, Building an AI Content Licensing Marketplace: 3 Key Points
- Microsoft is building the Publisher Content Marketplace (PCM) – a platform where AI companies can search for and contract content licensing terms.
- Co-designed with major media outlets such as Vox Media, AP, Conde Nast, and Hearst.
- Usage-based compensation model benefits both publishers and AI companies.
What Happened?
Microsoft is creating an app store-like platform for AI content licensing. This platform, called the Publisher Content Marketplace (PCM), allows AI companies to directly search for licensing terms for premium content, and publishers can receive reports on how their content is being used.[The Verge]
Microsoft co-designed PCM with major publishers such as Vox Media (The Verge’s parent company), AP, Conde Nast, People, Business Insider, Hearst, and USA TODAY. Yahoo is onboarding as the first demand partner.[Search Engine Land]
Why is it Important?
Frankly, the issue of unauthorized use of content in the AI industry has already reached a breaking point. NYT, The Intercept, and others are pursuing copyright lawsuits against Microsoft and OpenAI. The problem has become too large to be solved by individual contracts.
The interesting thing about PCM is that it’s a two-sided marketplace. Publishers set licensing terms, and AI companies can compare and contract terms as if they were shopping. Personally, I think this is one of the realistic solutions to the AI learning data problem.
It’s also significant that Microsoft is moving first in this market. From the publisher’s perspective, MS has consistently delivered the message that “fair compensation must be paid for content quality.”[Digiday]
What Happens Next?
Microsoft is currently expanding its partners in the pilot phase. Simply put, it’s a platform that could become the standard for content licensing in the AI era.
But one question remains. It is still unclear how PCM will work with the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) open standard that publishers are pushing for on their own. Microsoft has not commented on this.
In conclusion, this is the first sign that AI content licensing is shifting from individual negotiations to platform-based transactions. It is necessary to watch how Google and OpenAI will respond.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can anyone participate in PCM?
A: According to Microsoft, it supports publishers of all sizes, from large media companies to small specialized media outlets. However, it is currently in the pilot phase and is being tested with invited publishers. The timing of general participation has not yet been announced.
Q: How do publishers earn revenue?
A: It is a usage-based compensation model. Every time an AI product uses publisher content for grounding (reference), it is measured, and compensation is paid accordingly. Publishers can check reports on where and how much value their content has created.
Q: What is different from existing AI licensing agreements?
A: In the past, publishers and AI companies had to negotiate individually on a 1:1 basis. PCM is in the form of a marketplace, so multiple AI companies can compare and select the terms of multiple publishers on one platform. This greatly reduces negotiation costs and time.
If you found this article useful, please subscribe to AI Digester.
Reference Materials
- Microsoft says it’s building an app store for AI content licensing – The Verge (2026-02-03)
- Microsoft launches Publisher Content Marketplace for AI licensing – Search Engine Land (2026-02-03)
- Digiday Scorecard: Publishers rate Big Tech’s AI licensing deals – Digiday (2026-02-03)