Can I train an AI model on GPL 3.0 material?

Short answer: Training a model: Needs review. Training a model you use commercially: Needs review.

GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0-only): Run, study, change and share the software, including commercially. If you convey it or a work based on it, you must do so under the GPL with the corresponding source.

Training a model: Needs review

License: GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0-only, curated)

• The license grants broad rights but attaches conditions (such as keeping notices) to copies and adaptations. Whether a trained model, or its output, is a copy or adaptation that carries those conditions is legally unsettled, and in some places training may fall under an exception such as fair use. A human reviewer should confirm this use for your case.

Duties: attribution, license_notice, state_changes, share_alike, source_disclosure

Training a model you use commercially: Needs review

License: GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0-only, curated)

• The license grants broad rights but attaches conditions (such as keeping notices) to copies and adaptations. Whether a trained model, or its output, is a copy or adaptation that carries those conditions is legally unsettled, and in some places training may fall under an exception such as fair use. A human reviewer should confirm this use for your case.

Duties: attribution, license_notice, state_changes, share_alike, source_disclosure

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.
• Sublicensing is not allowed; every recipient receives a license from the original licensors (sections 2 and 10).
• Running the software, including as a network service, does not by itself trigger the duty to share source; conveying copies does.

Sources

• GNU General Public License v3.0: official text
• GPL-3.0-only on the SPDX License List

Check it yourself (free, no key)

{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
    "intended_use": {
      "model_training": true
    }
  }
}

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