Stability AI Announces New License Agreement: Free Commercial Use for Annual Revenues Under $1 Million
Brook.X
The model hosting platform Civitai previously announced a temporary ban on publishing any models or derivatives related to Stable Diffusion 3. This decision came as Stability AI, the developer behind the model, faced financial difficulties and unclear licensing terms. The hosting platform expressed concerns that if Stability AI were to be acquired by a capital firm, it might lead to retrospective copyright issues. For instance, images generated by fine-tuned models could potentially be considered the intellectual property of Stability AI.
On June 27, Civitai shared screenshots of email communications with Stability AI, revealing that any user downloading derivatives must also obtain permission from Stability AI. This indicated that models fine-tuned based on the SD3 also required authorization. Given these circumstances, Civitai decided to continue its ban on publishing SD3-related models until a new license or clearer copyright terms were established.
This proactive stance by the hosting platform, to wait for clearer copyright terms before allowing the publication of SD3 derivative models, could help prevent future copyright confusion and possibly encourage Stability AI to amend its licensing terms.
Today, Stability AI has indeed released new licensing terms, stating that businesses with annual revenues under 1 million (excluding1 million) can use the SD3 model for commercial purposes free of charge.
The two licensing options are briefly described as follows:
Community Non-Commercial Version: Offers a non-commercial license, provides the complete core model suite, and includes the SD3 Medium non-commercial version.
- This license is suitable for individual developers and researchers.
Community Commercial Version: Offers a free commercial license, provides the complete core model suite, and includes "SD3 Medium for creator-scale commercial use."
- This license is applicable to creators, developers, and businesses with annual revenues under $1 million.
According to the terms of the agreement, businesses or organizations with annual revenues exceeding $1 million must contact Stability AI to upgrade to an enterprise license.
Below is a summary based on the agreement, and it is recommended that creators, developers, and businesses planning to use the SD model read the complete licensing page:
Research and Non-Commercial Use License: Stability AI grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable, and royalty-free limited license to use, copy, distribute, create derivative works, and modify for any research or non-commercial purposes.
Commercial Use License: Stability AI grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable, and royalty-free limited license. If you intend to use it for commercial purposes, you must register for the community commercial license. If your or your affiliate's annual revenue exceeds $1 million, this license automatically terminates, and you must apply to Stability AI for an enterprise license.
Ownership of Derivatives: You own the derivative works you create, but Stability AI retains ownership of any derivative works generated from Stability AI materials.
Output Ownership: Within the extent permitted by applicable law, you own any output generated from the model or derivative works.
Complete Licensing Page: https://stability.ai/community-license-agreement
