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IEEE legal guidelines for how to use IEEE branded templates in Canva

IEEE legal guidelines, pages 2-5

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Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Prohibited in Canva

  • The “Magic Studio” is a Generative AI feature and is prohibited from being usedin Canva. IEEE staff, volunteers and vendors are strictly prohibited from using Generative AI technology in any aspect of the creation of products or deliverables submitted to IEEE. Additional information is provided in the following pages.
  • Can I disable Magic studio? You can manage your use of Magic studio by not using the features it offers. It's not a separate entity that can be turned off or on, but rather a set of features that you choose to use or not. It's all about your personal preference.

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Understanding IEEE Legal Guidelines for Generative (AI)

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in IEEE projects is prohibited

The following guidance was provided by IEEE legal for direction to IEEE staff, volunteers and vendors on use of AI. We are sharing this information since many of you engage with vendors for partner projects. Any questions can be directed to IEEE legal. This is in addition to the staff guidance that was shared earlier. �

IEEE vendors are strictly prohibited from using Generative AI technology in any aspect of the creation of products or deliverables submitted to IEEE. Generative AI refers to systems that are capable of autonomously generating content, such as text, images, audio, or other multimedia elements, without direct human intervention. This prohibition applies to content creation, image creation, software development, and any other services that you perform or products that you develop for IEEE. Vendors must disclose to IEEE, in writing, if prohibited AI technologies have been used in an existing project where deliverables have already been submitted to IEEE.�

This prohibition does not apply to the use of low-tier AI tools such as grammar correcting or spell-checking tools. 

For clarity, examples of prohibited AI use include, but are not limited to:

  • Using Shutterstock AI, DALL E, or other AI image generators to create images that will be submitted to IEEE as part of a project or deliverable.
  • Uploading IEEE content to an AI system in order to generate summaries or other content that will be submitted to IEEE as part of a project or deliverable. (Please note that uploading any IEEE materials into an AI tool for any purpose is also strictly prohibited).
  • Using AI systems, such as ChatGPT, to create written work products (research papers, essays, memorandum, scripts, summaries, etc.) that will be submitted to IEEE as part of a project or deliverable.

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Understanding IEEE Legal Guidelines for Generative (AI)

Does Canva present any legal, copyright or privacy issues? 

Yes. Please ensure that any uploaded content does not include any sensitive, confidential or personal information. Concerning copyrights, the IEEE cannot claim copyright ownership in any images or design elements from the Canva library. Because of that, we also cannot own the copyright to the final designs that we create using the Canva library.

We will retain copyright ownership in any original content that IEEE develops from scratch or uploads for incorporation in the final designs. Even though Canva permits broad use of the final designs, we must be careful with how the IEEE uses the final images to minimize any rogue claims of copyright infringement. For example, using final images for internal IEEE emails or presentations seems low risk, while using images for a national campaign may present a higher risk.

For reference, Canva grants users the non-exclusive right to use the final designs in the following ways. 

  • invitations, advertising and promotional projects, including printed materials, product packaging, presentations, film and video presentations, commercials, catalogues, brochures, greeting cards and postcards for promotion and/or resale, without any reproduction quantity limit;
  • school or university projects;
  • social media post or profile image;
  • decorative background on a personal computer or mobile device;
  • design templates solely for use on Canva;
  • entertainment applications, such as books and book covers, magazines, newspapers, editorials, newsletters, and video, broadcast and theatrical presentations of unlimited prints;
  • online or electronic publications, including web pages, blogs, ebooks and videos, in the case of Pro Content, subject to the restrictions in section 5A;
  • prints, posters (i.e. hardcopies) and other reproductions for personal or promotional purposes, resale, license or other distribution;
  • any other uses approved in writing by Canva.
  • The full list of permissible uses under the general license is located here under sections 5 & 6

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Understanding IEEE Legal Guidelines for Generative (AI)

Canva uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and we can manage some of the AI features through the Canva dashboard. What guidance can you provide so we are in compliance with IEEE policies on AI?

IEEE's standard policy is that generative AI images may not be used for external, commercial purposes. This means that the final Canva images may not generally be used, for example, on the cover of Spectrum, for public facing websites or publications, etc.

There is an exception if the images will be used as AI-themed illustrations in articles about AI and include a disclosure that the images are “Generated By AI.” Please reach out to me if you want to use any Canva generated images under this exception and we will approve your use in writing. You may freely use AI generated images for internal publications (company staff-only emails, InsideIEEE articles, PowerPoint slides, etc.). This aligns with Canva's terms of service. 

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Kimberley K. Odums, Esq.�Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property & Artificial Intelligence�Legal and Compliance Department�3 Park Avenue, 17th Floor�New York, NY 10016-5997�Telephone: 212-705-8929�Email: k.odums@ieee.org

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