Best Of
Re: Updates to our terms and new GenAI Policy
I agree that the genAI policy need to clarify the ownership of so-called "generated content".
Intellectual property laws/treaties/courts of all types generally hold that a copyright multiplied/added/subtracted/divided by a function still is a copy of the copyright or even the same copyright.
This means that the genAI policy implies that the signers gives away their copyright and other ip rights to other instructors or possibly Udemy.
This part of the policy needs to be clarified, in particular as the Udemy contracts and other policies clearly state that any and all content belong to the creators/ip-holders.
Regards
Re: Announcement: Udemy Restructuring Update
A personal reflection on these changes:
I know that these adjustments, both internally and on the "supply side" (instructor compensation) has and will be difficult for many of us. I certainly wish the best to all of those who have worked to communicate with and meet the needs of instructors. Sometimes the best career changes come from a forced change. It opens one to new opportunities and growth.
As many others have, I have been reflecting a lot on my Udemy experience and expectations for the future. Contentment comes from aligning one's expectations with achieved and achievable results and conditions. If current trends in engagement and the announced changes in compensation continue, my earnings per month are likely to be approximately 50% of what they were a year or two ago. I am now OK with that, particularly if Udemy achieves financial stability and can provide us with earning stability. When I started on Udemy in 2014 there were instructors who were very publicly announcing how many millions they had made and how easy it was. This created false expectations and resulting discontent.
Each of us, like some of the internal staff who now need to make changes in their careers, need to adjust our plans and expectations to the reality. For some that means that our Udemy income is now expected to be one part of our total compensation rather than our total compensation. That is OK. Most content creators (authors, artists, etc.) don't expect that their creation will provide a substantial and never ending monthly payment. It doesn't work that way. But, if Udemy succeeds in executing its strategy, we can adjust our expectations to be content with the results that we can achieve by publishing courses on this platform.
Again, thank you and good luck to any staff who may be seeking other career opportunities.