Model-first design
Can cover weights, software, documentation, training data, and other artifacts as a unified whole.
A permissive license crafted for machine-learning models
A single, easy-to-apply license enabling openness, consistency, and clarity across all components of an AI model distribution.
Why OpenMDW
Permissive by default
Use, modify, and redistribute without restriction. Built to accelerate AI development through openness, not constrain it.
Output clarity
Explicitly addresses model-generated outputs — a critical gap in most existing open-source licenses.
MOF-aligned
Developed alongside the Model Openness Framework for seamless compatibility with openness in AI standards.
How to Use It
Apply OpenMDW to your model in minutes
Copy the license file to the root of your repository and rename it to LICENSE. That’s it.
If your distribution includes other materials under different terms, clearly indicate those separately. OpenMDW applies to everything else by default.
Terminal
# 1. Go to your model repo
cd my-model-repo
# 2. Download the license
curl -o LICENSE \
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/OpenMDW/
OpenMDW/refs/heads/main/1.1/LICENSE.OpenMDW-1.1
# 3. Add and commit
git add LICENSE && git commit -m “Add OpenMDW-1.1”
Common Questions
Q1 What rights does OpenMDW grant?
Subject to its terms, OpenMDW‑1.1 grants unrestricted, royalty‑free permission to “deal in the Model Materials without restriction, including under all copyright, patent, database, and trade secret rights included or embodied therein.”
Q2 What counts as “Model Materials”?
Model materials include an AI model itself (including architecture and parameters), together with all other related artifacts (such as data, documentation, and software) that are distributed under OpenMDW as part of the model release.
Q3 Does OpenMDW require me to release all model components?
No. Like the Model Openness Framework, OpenMDW does not mandate which components you release. It governs how others can use the components that you do release.