CA-C-002100
DeepSeek — DeepSeek Model License
Entity
Date detected
May 14, 2026
Effective date
May 14, 2026
Severity
Low
Direction
Positive
Affected users
all users developers researchers
Taxonomy
Transparency removal
Changes
+3 sentences added · 2 sentences modified
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Event Summary

DeepSeek updated the GitHub repository page for its DeepSeek-R1 model license on May 14, 2026 to add summary language describing the MIT License terms. The update added three new sentences explaining that the software may be distributed under different terms and listing the permissions (commercial use, modification, distribution, private use) and conditions (license and copyright notice preservation) that apply. The underlying MIT License text itself remains unchanged; the modification adds explanatory metadata and GitHub's standard license summary feature to the repository page.

LOW

Consumer Impact

The updated repository page now includes explicit summary language describing what the MIT License permits and requires. The added text clarifies that commercial use, modification, and distribution are permitted, and that license and copyright notice preservation is required. The underlying MIT License terms remain substantively unchanged; this change adds explanatory disclosure to the GitHub repository interface without altering the legal permissions or obligations that apply to users of the DeepSeek-R1 model.

Governance Analysis

The updated repository page provides clearer visibility into what the MIT License permits and requires without changing the underlying legal permissions. This makes license terms more immediately apparent to users accessing the GitHub repository, reducing friction for developers evaluating whether they can use the model under the stated terms.

Key Clauses Affected

MIT License summary disclosure

Repository page now explicitly lists permissions (commercial use, modification, distribution, private use) and conditions (license and copyright notice) of the MIT License.

Full clause-by-clause analysis available with Compliance.
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This change record describes what was added, removed, or modified in the document. Analysis reflects what the updated agreement states or permits. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology

Evidence Verification

✓ Verified
Previous Version
e9160cfc6d20e21ca475e5609e197326a0d939c0fe93aa44f38773c07dc39994
May 14, 2026 00:50 UTC
✓ Verified
Current Version
bb3539500041855fdb25056dfac4d917471534633165f5db43ef24b790ccbd59
May 14, 2026 05:12 UTC
✓ Verified
Change Detected
May 14, 2026 05:12 UTC
Analysis Methodology
Citation Record
Entity: DeepSeek
Document: DeepSeek Model License
Record ID: CA-C-002100
Captured: 2026-05-14 05:12:33 UTC
URL: https://conductatlas.com/change/2026-05-14-deepseek-deepseek-model-license-2100/
Accessed: June 9, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
For legal and compliance teams

Institutional Analysis

Assessment

This change adds disclosure language to an open-source software license repository without modifying the underlying MIT License text. The MIT License is a standard permissive open-source license widely recognized by regulators and courts. No new compliance obligations are created by adding explanatory metadata to the GitHub repository page. Organizations already subject to open-source software compliance regimes will not face new material governance obligations from this change.

Full compliance analysis

Obligation analysis, escalation trigger, board language, and recommended action.

Monitor $19/mo Compliance $249/mo

Monitor: regulatory citations + obligations. Compliance: full compliance memo.

ConductAtlas provides verified policy intelligence sourced directly from platform documents. All analysis is intended to support, not replace, legal and compliance review. Record CA-C-002100.

Full Changes

See the full side-by-side comparison of every sentence added, removed, and modified.

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Document Context

Version history → Policy drift analysis → Document page →
Document
DeepSeek Model License
Entity
DeepSeek
Captured
May 14, 2026
Source URL
https://github.com/deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1/blob/main/LICENSE
Other changes to DeepSeek Model License
Previous change May 14, 2026
The detected change appears to be a metadata update in the GitHub repository interface (issue count changed from 17 to …
Low Neutral
Next change May 15, 2026
DeepSeek updated the LICENSE file for its DeepSeek-R1 model on May 15, 2026. The change removed three sentences that previously …
Low Neutral
View full version history →
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