This analysis describes what DeepSeek's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This clause establishes a copyleft mechanism that conditions the right to distribute derivative works on maintaining consistent licensing obligations downstream, ensuring license terms propagate through the chain of derivative development.
Interpretive note: The legal enforceability of license inheritance obligations for AI model weights, as distinct from software source code, remains unsettled in many jurisdictions.
Users who create and distribute derivative works or modifications must apply identical license terms to those derivatives and retain attribution and license documentation, rather than applying different or proprietary license conditions to modified versions.
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"If you create derivative works or modifications of the Model, you must distribute such derivative works under the same terms and conditions of this License, and you must include the original copyright notice and this License in any copies or derivative works you distribute.— Excerpt from DeepSeek's DeepSeek Open Source License
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This clause establishes a copyleft mechanism that conditions the right to distribute derivative works on maintaining consistent licensing obligations downstream, ensuring license terms propagate through the chain of derivative development.
Users who create and distribute derivative works or modifications must apply identical license terms to those derivatives and retain attribution and license documentation, rather than applying different or proprietary license conditions to modified versions.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by DeepSeek.