Can I train an AI model on CC BY-ND content?

Short answer: Training a model on the work: Needs review. Sharing an adapted version: No.

CC BY-ND 4.0 lets anyone share a work, even commercially, but not share adapted versions of it.

Training a model on the work: Needs review

License: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC-BY-ND-4.0, curated)

• 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

Sharing an adapted version: No

License: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC-BY-ND-4.0, curated)

• You may adapt the material for yourself, but you may not share the adapted material (section 2(a)(1)(B)).

Duties: attribution, license_notice, no_additional_restrictions

Context

• Creative Commons says whether training itself is an adaptation depends on the law where you are; outputs that reproduce the work are adaptations or copies and need the license's terms.

Sources

• CC BY-ND 4.0 legal code
• Creative Commons: Using CC-licensed works for AI training

Check it yourself (free, no key)

{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "CC-BY-ND-4.0",
    "intended_use": {
      "model_training": true
    }
  }
}

Computed from Rightshold's license profiles; not legal advice. Updated 2026-10-23. JSON · Markdown