{
  "question": "Can I train an AI model on CC BY-ND 4.0 material?",
  "slug": "can-i-train-ai-on-cc-by-nd-4-0",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/can-i-train-ai-on-cc-by-nd-4-0",
  "short_answer": "Training a model: Needs review. Training a model you use commercially: Needs review.",
  "framing": "Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC-BY-ND-4.0): Share the material unchanged for any purpose, including commercially, with credit. Adaptations may be made for yourself but not shared.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "Training a model",
      "license": "CC-BY-ND-4.0",
      "license_name": "Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International",
      "intended_use": {
        "model_training": true
      },
      "verdict": "needs_review",
      "answer": "Needs review",
      "findings": [
        "Creative Commons licenses grant rights to reproduce and adapt the material, with conditions that apply when it or an adaptation is shared. Whether training a model creates an adaptation, and how attribution applies to a trained model or its output, is not settled; Creative Commons notes that training may also fall under exceptions such as fair use. A human reviewer should confirm this use for your case."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "no_additional_restrictions"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/legalcode"
    },
    {
      "label": "Training a model you use commercially",
      "license": "CC-BY-ND-4.0",
      "license_name": "Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International",
      "intended_use": {
        "model_training": true,
        "commercial_use": true
      },
      "verdict": "needs_review",
      "answer": "Needs review",
      "findings": [
        "Creative Commons licenses grant rights to reproduce and adapt the material, with conditions that apply when it or an adaptation is shared. Whether training a model creates an adaptation, and how attribution applies to a trained model or its output, is not settled; Creative Commons notes that training may also fall under exceptions such as fair use. A human reviewer should confirm this use for your case."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "no_additional_restrictions"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/legalcode"
    }
  ],
  "context": [
    "Whether a trained model is a copy or adaptation of its training data is legally unsettled; where the license does not settle it, Rightshold marks training for human review instead of guessing.",
    "The grant is non-sublicensable: every recipient receives the license directly from the licensor (section 2(a)(5)).",
    "You may not apply legal terms or technical measures that restrict recipients from exercising the licensed rights (section 2(a)(5)(C))."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International: official text",
      "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/legalcode"
    },
    {
      "title": "CC-BY-ND-4.0 on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/CC-BY-ND-4.0.html"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "CC-BY-ND-4.0",
        "intended_use": {
          "model_training": true
        }
      }
    },
    "rest": "POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check"
  },
  "computed_from": "Rightshold license profiles at render time; not legal advice",
  "updated": "2026-10-19"
}