Purchasing or subscribing to a DIN standard does not automatically grant permission to process its content using AI applications. The AI license contractually governs this additional use case and provides clarity for use within an internal, isolated AI environment.

No. Neither an existing network license nor the legal provisions on text and data mining provide a sufficient legal basis for using DIN standards in AI systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot. A network license alone does not cover AI-based or automated processing. The TDM exception applies only under strict conditions and does not apply if rights holders have reserved the relevant usage rights. Anyone who assumes that purchasing a standard automatically permits AI use exposes themselves to a significant compliance risk.

Under DIN’s current AI licensing models, the PDF-based model allows all DIN standards held by the customer to be integrated into the customer’s internal, isolated AI system. When standards are licensed via an XML-based collection, the license covers all standards included in the subscription.

The AI license applies to a defined set of standards (currently DIN, except VDE; ISO may follow). The specific license variant governs how digitally acquired DIN documents may be used. 

The DIN AI license requires DIN membership, the internal reproduction right for DIN standards, and the purchase or subscription of the relevant documents. Under these conditions, the documents may be used in internal, encapsulated AI applications for the duration of the license. Details are governed by the respective contracts. 

The number of user accounts is determined by the required reproduction rights for DIN documents, not by the AI license.

Using DIN standards in AI systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot without an appropriate AI license constitutes a legal violation with direct compliance implications. Companies infringe protected usage rights and risk injunctive relief, retroactive license fees, and claims for damages. Depending on the scope of use, these financial consequences can be significant. In addition, rights holders may request information about usage, data flows, and economic benefits, and may require the deletion of processed standards data. Until the matter is clarified and resolved, use of the affected AI systems may also be restricted overall. An AI license establishes clear usage rights and reduces these legal, financial, and operational risks.

DIN Media only grants the right of use through the AI license. The customer is responsible for operating the internal, isolated AI system, using the purchased DIN PDFs within it, and assessing the results. The “human-in-the-loop” principle applies: results should be checked against the original document. Legally, the user is responsible for all decisions based on AI outputs.

The ReqIF converter is currently available as a module. It uses a language model and rule-based logic to enrich requirements from standards and to quickly identify and classify requirement objects. 

There is currently no comparable AI license offering for these standards. The aim is to be able to offer AI licenses for other standards bodies as well. We are in contact with them (e.g., ISO).