Definition #
The contractual terms specifying how AI models can be used, modified, or redistributed, including restrictions on commercial use, attribution, and liability.
Key Characteristics #
- Open-source licenses (Apache 2.0, MIT)
- Proprietary licenses (usage tiers, API restrictions)
- Ethical use clauses (e.g., banning weaponization)
- Compliance audits
Why It Matters #
Resolving license conflicts prevents lawsuits—40% of companies report open-source model licensing issues (WhiteSource, 2023).
Common Use Cases #
- Enterprise adoption of open-source LLMs
- SaaS AI model marketplaces
- Research collaboration agreements
Examples #
- Hugging Face Model License Taxonomy
- NVIDIA’s NeMo Framework License
- OpenAI’s GPT-4 Enterprise Terms
FAQs #
Q: Can I fine-tune a licensed model?
A: Depends on the license—some allow derivatives (e.g., Llama 2 Community License), others prohibit them.
Q: What’s “copyleft” in AI?
A: Licenses like GPL require derivative models to adopt the same license, limiting commercialization.