8 Total
2 High severity
4 Medium severity
2 Low severity
Summary

The DeepSeek Model License establishes the terms governing use of the DeepSeek-R1 model, permitting research and commercial deployment while imposing restrictions on model output use and redistribution. The license prohibits using model outputs to train competing foundation models. Commercial deployment by entities with more than 100 million monthly active users requires separate written authorization from DeepSeek.

Technical / Legal Breakdown

This document is the DeepSeek Model License governing use of the DeepSeek-R1 model weights and associated materials, published by DeepSeek under a permissive but conditional framework. The agreement states that use is permitted for research and commercial purposes subject to restrictions, including a prohibition on using the model outputs to train competing foundation models, and a requirement to include the DeepSeek Model License and copyright notices in all redistribution. The terms authorize commercial use for entities with fewer than 100 million monthly active users without prior written consent from DeepSeek, while entities exceeding that threshold must obtain a separate commercial license, creating a tiered access structure that is operationally distinct from standard open-source model licenses. The license engages considerations under intellectual property law, trade secret protections, and potentially export control frameworks depending on the jurisdiction of the deploying entity. Material compliance considerations include the anti-distillation clause (prohibiting use of model outputs to train competing models), the MAU-based commercial threshold, and the absence of explicit provisions addressing GDPR, CCPA, or sector-specific data regulations that deploying organizations would need to address independently.

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20 important changes detected

21 versions captured · Last updated: June 2026

What changed DeepSeek's GitHub repository page for the DeepSeek-R1 model experienced a technical display error on June 25, 2026, causing the LICENSE file view to show an error message rather than the actual license text. The underlying MIT License file itself remains intact and unchanged, containing the standard MIT terms authorizing commercial use, modification, distribution, and private use. The operational impact is that users attempting to view the license terms through the GitHub web interface encounter an error rather than readable license text, though the raw license file and its actual terms remain accessible through alternative GitHub viewing methods.
Why this matters The DeepSeek-R1 model remains licensed under the standard MIT License, which permits commercial use, modification, distribution, and private use without restriction. No change to the actual license terms occurred on June 25, 2026. A temporary display error affected how the license appeared on GitHub's web interface, but users can access the unchanged license text through alternative GitHub viewing methods or by downloading the raw file.
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What changed DeepSeek updated the LICENSE file for DeepSeek-R1 on June 21, 2026 by adding clarifications to the MIT License display. The updated document now includes a statement that licensed works, modifications, and larger works may be distributed under different terms and without source code, alongside a structured summary of permissions (commercial use, modification, distribution, private use), limitations (liability, warranty), and conditions (license and copyright notice). The change does not alter the underlying MIT License text itself, which remains standard open-source boilerplate, but adds explanatory metadata and contextual language around how the license operates.
Why this matters The updated LICENSE file now includes explanatory language clarifying that works distributed under the license may use different terms and may be distributed without source code, though the core MIT License permissions remain unchanged. This addition does not alter what the MIT License permits; it provides additional context on how derivative works may be licensed. No specific action is required by users; the core license terms and permissions remain the same.
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June 18, 2026 unknown

DeepSeek updated their DeepSeek Model License on June 18, 2026. Change detected: 1 sentence(s) modified. Document contained 3 sentences after update.

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June 16, 2026 low

The provided diff context shows nearly identical MIT License text before and after the detected change on June 16, 2026. The only observable difference appears to be a metadata change …

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June 13, 2026 unknown

DeepSeek updated their DeepSeek Model License on June 13, 2026. Change detected: 3 sentence(s) removed, 2 sentence(s) modified. Document contained 3 sentences after update.

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June 11, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated the public repository display of its MIT License for the DeepSeek-R1 model on June 11, 2026. The change added informational text to the GitHub license page clarifying that …

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June 11, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated its MIT License file on June 11, 2026 by removing supplementary documentation and clarifications that previously appeared alongside the standard MIT license text. The change removes three sentences …

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June 9, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated its GitHub repository license page on June 9, 2026 to add clarifying language about the MIT License terms. The changes added three sentences stating that licensed works and …

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June 8, 2026 unknown

DeepSeek updated their DeepSeek Model License on June 08, 2026. Change detected: 3 sentence(s) removed, 2 sentence(s) modified. Document contained 3 sentences after update.

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June 2, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated its DeepSeek-R1 model license on June 2, 2026 by adding clarifying language on GitHub describing the MIT License terms. The updated license now includes explicit statements that licensed …

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June 2, 2026 unknown

DeepSeek updated their DeepSeek Model License on June 02, 2026. Change detected: 1 sentence(s) modified. Document contained 3 sentences after update.

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May 29, 2026 unknown

DeepSeek updated their DeepSeek Model License on May 29, 2026. Change detected: 3 sentence(s) removed, 2 sentence(s) modified. Document contained 3 sentences after update.

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May 27, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated the LICENSE file for its DeepSeek-R1 model on May 27, 2026, adding explanatory language about the MIT License. The update inserted a summary stating that 'licensed works, modifications, …

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May 26, 2026 low

DeepSeek modified its DeepSeek-R1 model LICENSE file on May 26, 2026 by removing three sentences of supplementary guidance text. The removed text included a statement about licensing flexibility ('Licensed works, …

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May 25, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated its DeepSeek-R1 model license on May 25, 2026 to add clarifying language about the MIT License terms. The updated version now includes a summary statement that licensed works, …

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May 16, 2026 low

The detected change shows only a minor, non-substantive difference in the GitHub repository metadata: the pull request count increased from 14 to 15 in the file view interface. The core …

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May 15, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated the LICENSE file for its DeepSeek-R1 model on May 15, 2026. The change removed three sentences that previously appeared in the GitHub repository's LICENSE display: one sentence clarifying …

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May 14, 2026 low

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 …

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May 14, 2026 low

The detected change appears to be a metadata update in the GitHub repository interface (issue count changed from 17 to 16), not a substantive modification to the MIT License text …

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May 13, 2026 low

DeepSeek updated the DeepSeek-R1 repository LICENSE file on May 13, 2026, removing three sentences of supplementary text while retaining the core MIT License terms. The removed text included a statement …

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Recent Provision Changes Jun 25, 2026

Modified (1)
Acceptable Use Policy and Prohibited Conduct

Severity upgraded from medium to high, indicating increased importance of compliance enforcement.

7 provisions unchanged.

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High — 2 provisions
Medium — 4 provisions
Low — 2 provisions

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Mapped Governance Frameworks

California AB 2013 AI Training Data Transparency
US-CA
View official text ↗
Archival ProvenanceSource & Archival Record
Last Captured June 25, 2026 01:00 UTC
Capture Method Automated scheduled archival capture
Document ID CA-D-000835
Version ID CA-V-004221
SHA-256 c468efebd1dd06375f2072a754654f18598e69b5991f5edfb823496b97fdb009
✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Text extracted ✓ Change verified ✓ Hash verified

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