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SIDE-BY-SIDE · 2 OF 3
Two platforms.
Same questions.
Descript
IMAGE / VIDEO / AUDIO GENERATION
PROMPT
Users own their inputs and generated outputs. "Both Input and Output are considered User Content under these Terms, and as between you and Descript, you own all right, title, and interest in and to any Input and Output, to the extent protectable under applicable law."
OUTPUT
Users own their generated outputs but Descript notes that "the copyright status of the generated Output may not be clear and that the use of such Generative Tools may affect your ability to obtain or enforce any intellectual property rights."
TRAINING
Descript uses content to train models by default unless the user opts out. "Descript may access and use your Input and Output in order to create and operate Descript...including by Descript to train, improve, and develop its models and technologies (unless you have opted out of such use)."
COMMERCIAL
Commercial use of user-generated outputs is permitted. Specific commercial licensing applies to Storyblocks stock material.
301 verified findings across the displayed surfaces.
Microsoft Designer
IMAGE / VIDEO / AUDIO GENERATION
PROMPT
Microsoft does not claim ownership of user inputs to AI services.
OUTPUT
Output IP left to user determination. Same Microsoft Services Agreement applies.
TRAINING
Consumer product. Inputs may be stored and processed by Microsoft for safety monitoring.
COMMERCIAL
Personal and non-commercial use designated in Microsoft Services Agreement for consumer AI services.
788 verified findings across the displayed surfaces.
Empty Comparison Slot
AIRIN SUMMARY
Descript carries highly permissive license terms; Microsoft Designer carries highly permissive license terms.FOR ENTERPRISE: DESCRIPT NOT RECOMMENDED · MICROSOFT DESIGNER NOT RECOMMENDED
↳ Compliance surfaces · side by side
⚡ INTERACTIVE RISK COMPARISON HEATMAP
| RISK SURFACE | DESCRIPT | MICROSOFT DESIGNER |
|---|---|---|
| PPrompt Ownership | ||
| OOutput Ownership | ||
| TModel Training | ||
| CCommercial Use | ||
| DData Privacy | ||
| $Tier Differences |
* Click any cell in the heatmap matrix to scroll directly to its verbatim policy citations below.
📂 Intellectual Property & Model Training
P
SURFACE 01
Prompt Ownership
Descript
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Users own their inputs and generated outputs. "Both Input and Output are considered User Content under these Terms, and as between you and Descript, you own all right, title, and interest in and to any Input and Output, to the extent protectable under applicable law."
“We claim no ownership rights in your User Content. You hereby grant to us a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, fully paid, worldwide license to create derivative works from, access, reproduce, distribute, process, publish, display, perform, adapt,…”
Despite claiming no ownership, Descript takes an extremely broad, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable license over all user content including name and likeness, across all current and future media channels, with no compensation.
Microsoft Designer
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Microsoft does not claim ownership of user inputs to AI services.
“As part of building the Xbox Services community, you grant to Microsoft, its affiliates and sublicensees a free and worldwide right to use, modify, reproduce, distribute, broadcast, share and display Your Content or your name, gamertag, motto, or avatar that you posted for any Xb…”
Broad, royalty-free, worldwide license granted to Microsoft and sublicensees to use, modify, reproduce, distribute, broadcast, and display user-submitted content with no time limit stated.
O
SURFACE 02
Output Ownership
Descript
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Users own their generated outputs but Descript notes that "the copyright status of the generated Output may not be clear and that the use of such Generative Tools may affect your ability to obtain or enforce any intellectual property rights."
“We claim no ownership rights in your User Content. You hereby grant to us a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, fully paid, worldwide license to create derivative works from, access, reproduce, distribute, process, publish, display, perform, adapt,…”
Descript disclaims ownership of user content but takes back a sweeping perpetual, irrevocable license to outputs/edited content. The scope of 'improve the Descript Service' is broad and could encompass model training.
Microsoft Designer
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Output IP left to user determination. Same Microsoft Services Agreement applies.
“players, and third-party material available on Bing and MSN, including through Microsoft bots, applications and programs, are for your noncommercial, personal use only. Other uses, including downloading, copying, or redistributing these materials, or using these materials or prod…”
Outputs/materials from Bing, MSN, and Microsoft bots are restricted to noncommercial personal use only. Using them to build your own products is prohibited unless specifically authorized. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.
T
SURFACE 03
Model Training
Descript
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Descript uses content to train models by default unless the user opts out. "Descript may access and use your Input and Output in order to create and operate Descript...including by Descript to train, improve, and develop its models and technologies (unless you have opted out of such use)."
“You hereby grant to us a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, fully paid, worldwide license to create derivative works from, access, reproduce, distribute, process, publish, display, perform, adapt, modify, analyze, and otherwise use the User Content…”
The license to 'analyze' and 'improve the Descript Service' could encompass AI model training on user content. There is no explicit opt-out mechanism referenced in the visible text.
Microsoft Designer
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Consumer product. Inputs may be stored and processed by Microsoft for safety monitoring.
“As part of our efforts to improve and develop our products, we may use your data to develop and train our AI models. Learn more here .”
Microsoft explicitly reserves the right to use user data to train AI models. This appears twice in the document, suggesting it is a firm policy across products. No opt-out mechanism is described in this excerpt.
C
SURFACE 04
Commercial Use
Descript
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Commercial use of user-generated outputs is permitted. Specific commercial licensing applies to Storyblocks stock material.
“Additional content libraries (the “Additional Libraries”) are not subject to this license, may not be available for commercial use without a license, and may require that you obtain model clearance.”
Additional Libraries outside Storyblocks may require separate commercial licenses and model clearances, creating potential legal exposure for users who assume all platform content is commercially usable.
Microsoft Designer
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Personal and non-commercial use designated in Microsoft Services Agreement for consumer AI services.
“The articles, text, photos, maps, videos, video players, and third-party material available on Bing and MSN, including through Microsoft bots, applications and programs, are for your noncommercial, personal use only. Other uses, including downloading, copying, or redistributing t…”
Bing and MSN content (including content delivered via Microsoft bots/AI applications) is explicitly limited to noncommercial personal use. Using such content to build products or for commercial purposes requires separate authorization.
📂 Data Privacy & Governance
D
SURFACE 05
Data Privacy
Descript
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
—
“Personalize and improve the Descript Service and for research and development purposes including training our artificial intelligence models;”
User data (including uploaded content) may be used to train AI models. An opt-out exists for Projects specifically, but this broad statement covers other collected information without a clear opt-out.
Microsoft Designer
HIGH⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
—
“If you cancel, your access to the Services ends at the end of your current Service period or, if we bill your account on a periodic basis, at the end of the period in which you canceled. If you initiate a chargeback or reversal with your bank for your payment of Services, we will…”
Upon cancellation (or chargeback), content access and data may be immediately or imminently terminated. No grace period for data export is specified in this passage.
$
SURFACE 06
Tier Differences
Descript
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
—
“ Scope of License. The license granted to you is limited to a non-transferable license to use the Mac App on any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad that you own or control as permitted by the Usage Rules set forth in the Apple App Store Terms of Service.”
Microsoft Designer
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
—
“ iii. Certain restrictions and limitations apply to earning, redeeming, and other uses of Points in the Rewards Program. For more information see the Rewards section at https://support.microsoft.com (" FAQ ").”