Can I train an AI model on CC BY images?

Q: Is model training allowed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International?

Needs review. 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, state_changes, no_additional_restrictions.

Last updated 2026-10-23

TL;DR: Model training: Needs review. CC BY 4.0 grants broad rights to reproduce and adapt, with attribution.

Is model training allowed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International?

Needs review. 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.

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

Duties: attribution, license_notice, state_changes, no_additional_restrictions

What else should I know?

Whether a trained model is an adaptation, and how attribution applies to it, is unsettled; a2ally marks training for review instead of guessing.

What are the sources?

How can I check it myself (free, no key)?

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

Computed from a2ally's license profiles; not legal advice. JSON · Markdown

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export A2ALLY_API_KEY=rs_...   # the api_key from the reply (shown once)
curl -s https://www.a2ally.com/v1/licenses/check -H "Authorization: Bearer $A2ALLY_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"license":"MIT","intended_use":{"commercial_use":true}}'

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