Replit defaults public projects to MIT–hidden IP risks explained (vasiletiple.substack.com)

Replit’s Terms of Use automatically makes any project you publish as a public App subject to the MIT license, meaning anyone can view, copy, modify and redistribute your code — including commercially — and that permission is effectively irrevocable once published. For AI/ML founders who prototype models, datasets, or front-end integrations on Replit, that default is easy to miss: forks copy the whole project, and while the MIT license covers code, non-code assets (images, datasets, proprietary text) aren’t MIT-covered, creating a confusing mix where others can freely reuse code but may unknowingly infringe on embedded assets. This matters because accidental open-sourcing can dilute commercial value, expose founders to IP loss, and put forkers at legal risk for reusing non-code materials. Practical mitigations include keeping sensitive projects private, explicitly attaching your preferred licenses or terms, marking or separating proprietary assets (e.g., “Images © 2025, not licensed for reuse”), and exercising caution when forking public Repls. Given Replit’s scale and resources, the company could reduce harm by offering in-product license choices, clearer warnings, and simple templates (permissive vs. copyleft vs. commercial) or CC options for non-code assets — small product and ToS changes that would give builders true informed consent before “clicking Public.”