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This page describes what the document states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology
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.
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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Start Compliance free trial11 important changes detected
12 versions captured · Last updated: June 2026
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.
View change record →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, …
View change record →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, …
View change record →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, …
View change record →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 …
View change record →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 …
View change record →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 …
View change record →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 …
View change record →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 …
View change record →Severity was elevated from medium to high, indicating stricter enforcement of acceptable use policies.
7 provisions unchanged.
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DeepSeek has updated this document before.
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