# [$] Considering the OpenMDW license

> Source: <https://lwn.net/Articles/1089251/>
> Published: 2026-08-21 13:42:29+00:00

The open-source world has been struggling for a few years now to understand
how to approach large language models (LLMs) and the licensing applied to
them. What constitutes "freedom" with respect to a black box filled with
numerical weights? The process taken by the Open Source Initiative (OSI)
in the [development](https://lwn.net/Articles/995159/) of its [Open AI
Definition](https://opensource.org/ai/open-source-ai-definition) was controversial at best, as was its output. Now, the
Linux Foundation's Mike Dolan has [brought
a new license to the OSI](https://lwn.net/ml/all/CAFV=PSG=bsLTemzjyCKYYz9j=rX9dcNo6=2T6htbxTRgervMrA@mail.gmail.com) for approval. It is called the OpenMDW ("Open
Model, Data, and Weights"), and it aims to clarify licensing for the
distribution of LLMs and related materials, but consensus is proving hard
to find for this license as well.