Can I train an AI model on CC0 material?

Short answer: Training a model: Yes. Training a model you use commercially: Yes.

Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0): Dedicates the work to the public domain: copyright and related rights are waived as far as the law allows, with a fallback license where they cannot be.

Training a model: Yes

License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0, curated)

• Every use you described is granted by CC0, and nothing you described is prohibited.

Training a model you use commercially: Yes

License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0, curated)

• Every use you described is granted by CC0, and nothing you described is prohibited.

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.
• Trademark and patent rights are not waived (section 4(a)).
• No warranties are given (section 4(b)).

Sources

• Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal: official text
• CC0-1.0 on the SPDX License List

Check it yourself (free, no key)

{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "CC0-1.0",
    "intended_use": {
      "model_training": true
    }
  }
}

Computed from Rightshold's license profiles; not legal advice. Updated 2026-10-19. JSON · Markdown