PROMPT GUIDE

How to Check the License of an Image Model or LoRA (Items and Steps)

Even when an image model or LoRA is free to download, it can come with rules about how you may use it. To avoid trouble later, this guide lists what to check before you use one. Interpretations differ by model, so this article only organizes the items to check; confirm the conclusion in the description written by the distributor.

Last updated: 2026-10-22 approx. 3 min read

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The short answer

A model or LoRA license is set by the terms written on its distribution page. Before use, check five items: commercial use, credit, redistribution, modification and prohibited uses, and keep a note of what you checked and when. Terms can change, so read the latest wording.

Where do you check a model license, and what do you check?

Open the model's distribution page and its license section, then check five items: commercial use, credit, redistribution, modification and prohibited uses.

A license is the set of rules on the conditions under which you may use a model. It is written in the description or license section of the page where the model is shared. The conditions can change between versions of the same model, so always open the page for the version you use. If a legal judgment is needed, it is safest to check official sources or a qualified professional.

Item to check	What to look at	What to note down
Commercial use	Whether you may use the pictures for sales, ads or other work	Allowed, not allowed or conditional
Credit	Whether the model or author name must be shown	The required wording
Redistribution	Whether you may give the model file to others	Allowed or not allowed
Modification and merging	Whether you may mix the model or train it further	Allowed, not allowed or conditions
Prohibited uses	Whether purposes you must not use it for are listed	The prohibited content
Treatment of outputs	Rights to the pictures and how you may publish them	The scope that is written

Anime girl in a blazer carefully reading a sheet of paper, checking a model license — 条件を読んで確認

Anime girl holding a mug beside a closed notebook, keeping notes on what she checked — 条件を読んで確認

Illustration usage rules

How should you read the commercial use and redistribution fields?

They are not only yes or no. Conditions such as credit required or no monetization can apply, so read the text to the end.

How it is written	How to read it	A note
Commercial use OK	You can use it for work or sales	Also check that there are no conditions
Non-commercial only	Within the range of personal enjoyment	Check whether posts that earn money are included
Credit required	Show the author or model name	Check whether the wording is specified
No redistribution	You cannot share it as your own model	Check whether LoRAs and merged models are treated the same
Nothing is written	An unclear state	Confirm by asking the author or similar means

How should you keep a record of what you checked?

Make a one-line note with the model name, version, date checked and key conditions, and save it in the project folder.

How to check before use

Open the distribution page of the model or LoRA and select the version you use
Read the license section and description to the end and check the five items above
For points that are unclear, confirm through the author's explanation or contact details
Write down the date checked, model name, version and key conditions
When you update the model, check again that the conditions have not changed

Model: (name) / Version: (number) / Checked on: 2026-10-22 / Commercial use: (allowed / not allowed / conditional) / Credit: (required / not required) / Redistribution: (allowed / not allowed) / URL: (distribution page)

Work: (title) / Model used: (name) / LoRA: (name and strength) / Where the check note is: (folder)

Rinka's tips

The wording on a distribution page can change later, so look at it once more before you publish your work
When you mix several LoRAs, check the conditions of everything you used
If you are unsure how to interpret a condition, do not assume; ask the author or a qualified professional

What should you check before you hand over or publish a model or a picture?

What to check differs by situation: giving someone the model file, publishing a merged model, or publishing your settings.

Using something only for yourself may be fine, but handing it to others or publishing it can bring stricter conditions. In particular, a model that mixes LoRAs or has been trained further may be affected by the conditions of everything it was built from. The table below shows which item to look at in each situation.

Situation	What to check	A note
Giving someone the model file	Whether redistribution is allowed	If it is not allowed, share the link to the distribution page instead
Publishing a merged model	The modification and redistribution conditions of every source model	If even one does not allow it, do not publish
Publishing a model you trained further	The conditions of the base model and the rights to the images used	Check official sources or a qualified professional
Publishing your settings with a picture	Whether the model name must be credited	Check how the credit should be written

When a decision is hard, choosing not to use or publish it is also an option. Keep a note of the result of your check.

For the flow of checking before commercial use, see What to check before using AI images commercially (reading the terms) →

For the basic thinking on copyright, see AI art and copyright basics (what to watch out for and how to check) →

For how to choose a model, see How to Choose a Stable Diffusion Model (Checkpoint) →

For how to use LoRAs, see How to Use LoRA (Syntax, Strength and Trigger Words) →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is a model's license written?

In most cases it is in the description or license section of the distribution page. Open the page for the version you use and check the latest wording.

Do I have to check the license before I use a model?

Checking before you use it makes trouble later less likely. Check first, especially if you use it commercially or share your work.

What should I do when the wording is vague?

Confirm through the author's explanation or contact details, and note that choosing not to use it is also a sound decision. If a legal judgment is needed, check official sources or a qualified professional.

Does the license change when the model version changes?

It can. When you update, read the distribution page again to see what is written.