Change record
CA-C-004533
DeepSeek Model License
Entity
Date detected
August 21, 2026
Severity
Low
Direction
Neutral
Changes
1 sentence modified

Impact Summary

Low Neutral for users
Affected users
All users Developers

The change detected on August 21, 2026 involved a minor metadata update to the DeepSeek-R1 repository LICENSE file. The substantive MIT License text remained unchanged. The detected modification affected repository metadata (issue count changed from 13 to 12) rather than the actual license terms governing use of the software. No operational change to DeepSeek's license permissions, restrictions, or user obligations occurred.

Stay ahead of the changes
Track DeepSeek and get the diff the day its terms change.
Share 𝕏 Share in Share 🔒 PDF

What this means for you

The MIT License governing DeepSeek-R1 was not substantively modified. Users and developers retain the same rights to use, modify, distribute, and sublicense the software under the existing MIT terms. No change to permissions, restrictions, or obligations.

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
584854a3910348b4ff1a7343ed4de4fc4ba8dde2aa01fb20e6d3eafb63d0e274
August 16, 2026 01:01 UTC
✓ Verified
Current Version
f69cdec41d828f6b0e21a6e0e1edfbe15148fcedc4824ecadd6555f024022aca
August 21, 2026 01:00 UTC
✓ Verified
Change Detected
August 21, 2026 01:00 UTC
Analysis Methodology
Citation Record
Entity: DeepSeek
Document: DeepSeek Model License
Record ID: CA-C-004533
Captured: 2026-08-21 01:00:59 UTC
URL: https://conductatlas.com/change/2026-08-21-deepseek-deepseek-model-license-4533/
Accessed: Aug. 21, 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 involved repository metadata updates only. The MIT License text—which grants broad permissions to use, modify, and distribute the software subject only to preservation of copyright and license notices—remains in effect. No compliance obligations, …

🔒 Full institutional analysis

Regulatory exposure, obligation change, escalation trigger, board-ready language, and recommended action for legal and compliance teams.

Unlock the full institutional analysis — Insight

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-004533.

Full Changes

View complete diff →

Document Context

Version history → Policy drift analysis → Document page →
Document
DeepSeek Model License
Entity
DeepSeek
Captured
August 21, 2026
Source URL
https://github.com/deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1/blob/main/LICENSE
Other changes to DeepSeek Model License
Previous change Aug 15, 2026
The detected change involves a minor update to the DeepSeek-R1 repository metadata on the GitHub interface. The 'Issues' count changed …
Low Neutral
View full version history →
More from DeepSeek
Aug 15, 2026 Low
DeepSeek Model License

The detected change involves a minor update to the DeepSeek-R1 repository metadata on the GitHub interface. The 'Issues' count changed …

Aug 13, 2026 Low
DeepSeek Model License

The detected change in DeepSeek's repository metadata shows no substantive modification to the MIT License terms themselves. The document continues …

Jul 30, 2026 Low
DeepSeek Model License

The detected change on July 30, 2026 shows minor metadata updates to DeepSeek's DeepSeek-R1 repository page (pull requests changed from …

Get the research letter

Companies change their terms quietly. We read every version and catch what actually changed. One email a week on the changes that matter and what they mean.

Stay ahead of the changes

Track DeepSeek policy changes

Get alerted when this policy changes again, including what changed and why it matters.

All DeepSeek changes →