WeTransfer has updated its Terms of Service, and the new language should raise concern for audio professionals—especially when sharing unreleased tracks, stems, or sensitive client material.

Summary of the New Clause

As of August 8, 2025, WeTransfer’s Terms of Service (Section 6.3) includes:

You hereby grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non‑exclusive, royalty‑free, transferable, sub‑licensable license to use your Content … including to train machine learning models, create derivative works, and commercialize or develop new technologies or services … without compensation.

Sources: Film Stories article & Reddit thread

Why the Sub‑License Grant Is So Concerning

1. Perpetual & Transferable License

Your content—mixes, demos, stems—can be used forever. The license doesn’t expire and can be handed off to other parties.

2. Sub‑Licensing to Third Parties

WeTransfer can legally allow other companies (including AI firms or advertisers) to use your uploads—without notifying you.

3. Derivative Works & AI Training

Your content may be modified or used to train generative AI tools. A single vocal stem could inform a dataset you never approved.

4. Royalty‑Free Commercial Use

Even if your files fuel a commercial product, you’ll never see royalties, attribution, or compensation.

These rights apply regardless of whether you use the free or paid version of WeTransfer. There is currently no opt-out.

What Creatives Are Saying

From Reddit:

“Transfer and/or sub‑license your work to others, indefinitely.”
“Use it to train machine learning models.”
“The license you grant them is perpetual… transferable, sub‑licensable…”
“Umm, no thanks!”

Implications for Studios & Audio Pros

• No NDA protection: Anything shared with clients—drafts, stems, mixes—may now be at risk.
• AI scraping: Your sound design or vocal tracks could train future generative tools.
• No royalties: Even if your work gets monetized or commercialized, you won’t be paid.
• Breach of trust: Clients may reconsider working with studios that use WeTransfer under these terms.

What You Can Do

1. Encrypt Before Upload

Use ZIP compression with a password. WeTransfer can’t scan encrypted files.

2. Use Privacy‑First Alternatives

MASV and similar platforms don’t insert sub-licensing clauses into their TOS. They’re designed for professional media workflows.

3. Redesign Your Workflow

Avoid sending sensitive or client-owned content through WeTransfer until they revise these terms.

4. Watch for Changes

WeTransfer has acknowledged backlash and may revise this clause. But until they do, treat this license as active.

Verdict

WeTransfer has transitioned from a neutral file courier to a platform with data-harvesting implications. For serious studios, this clause is a red flag.

Encrypt it. Avoid it. Or replace it—before your work becomes someone else’s training set.