# 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](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html) (`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](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html) (`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](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html)
- [GPL-3.0-only on the SPDX License List](https://spdx.org/licenses/GPL-3.0-only.html)

## Check it yourself (free, no key)
```json
{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
    "intended_use": {
      "model_training": true
    }
  }
}
```
REST: POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check

_Computed from Rightshold's license profiles; not legal advice. Updated 2026-10-19. JSON: https://www.rightshold.com/answers/can-i-train-ai-on-gpl-3-0.json_