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
The patent license provides broad commercial and non-commercial freedom to practice the Model's patented aspects, but the explicit carve-out for paragraph-stated exceptions—most notably the patent litigation termination clause—means that freedom is not unconditional.
Interpretive note: The excerpt is truncated after 'import,' so additional licensed acts may exist in the full clause. The exceptions to irrevocability are referenced but not quoted, requiring cross-reference to the paragraph context.
Users receive broad patent rights to make, use, sell, and import the Model at no cost, but those rights can be lost under conditions stated in the same paragraph.
How other platforms handle this
Upwork grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the executable code version of the Software for your use solely in connection with work you perform on or through the Site.
We hereby grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license under the rights licensable by us to use the services and use Content from our services solely for your personal use...
...you grant to users of your model a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use, store, and create derivative works from your LoRA and its output.
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"DeepSeek hereby grants to You a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable (except as stated in this paragraph) patent license to make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell, import...— Excerpt from DeepSeek's DeepSeek Open Source License
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The patent license provides broad commercial and non-commercial freedom to practice the Model's patented aspects, but the explicit carve-out for paragraph-stated exceptions—most notably the patent litigation termination clause—means that freedom is not unconditional.
Users receive broad patent rights to make, use, sell, and import the Model at no cost, but those rights can be lost under conditions stated in the same paragraph.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 257 platforms. See the full comparison.
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