Terms of use

Last updated: October 22, 2026.

Authorship Signals provides a free signature builder, visual marks, and guidance for voluntary authorship disclosure. These terms explain how to use them.

Make an honest declaration

Choose the signal that matches the content you are sending. Human Reviewed means a person reviewed and approved that final message. Governed AI requires a real description of applied controls and does not necessarily mean a person reviewed each message. Automated communication still needs an accountable owner and contact.

The signals are self-declarations. They do not detect AI, establish authorship as a matter of law, or certify accuracy, quality, sincerity, fact-checking, or regulatory compliance. Do not use the marks to misrepresent your process or imply our endorsement of you, your organization, or your content.

Your responsibility

You remain responsible for your message, its claims and commitments, and the rights and permissions needed to distribute it. Check the final signature in your own email clients and update it when your process changes. The guidance is general information, not legal or other professional advice, and does not create a professional-client relationship.

Free to use and adapt

The supplied software, marks, and documentation are offered under the MIT license. Preserve the notices required by that license when redistributing the materials. Mentioning or linking to a person or organization does not grant permission to imply their endorsement or to use unrelated trademarks or personal materials.

Availability and limits

The service and materials are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties to the extent permitted by law. We may change or discontinue the service. To the extent permitted by law, the project contributors are not liable for losses arising from use of the service or materials. Nothing here excludes rights or liabilities that applicable law does not allow us to exclude.

Privacy and contact

The Privacy page explains local saving, website analytics, and hosted badge requests. For website questions, contact Geoff Hopkins at geoff@geoffhopkins.com. The initiative is attributed to Sarah L. Hopkins; the marks are not a verification or certification service.

We will update this page and its date when these terms change.