Notes

How Llama’s Licenses Have Evolved Over Time

· 3min · victorb
cover

Here is a quick rundown on all the various licenses/use policies the LLM model Llama (by Meta/Facebook) been released under, together with a quick comparison of what the changes between the versions are

The first released version of Llama (at that time called LLaMA) wasn't available to the public, although the inference code itself was released publicly as GPLv3. In order to get access to the model itself, you would need to go through an application process and be approved by Meta/Facebook. The license you'd end up if approved, would be the LLaMA LICENSE AGREEMENT.

The second and the rest of the versions of llama were released under what Meta calls "Open Source" licenses.1

Here's a list of all current licenses/use policies in effect according to Meta:

List of used URLs for the download at 25th of March, 2025.

And here's a brief summary of changes:

VersionsLicense ChangesUse Policy Changes
2 → 3Minor2, new requirement: prominently display "Built with Meta Llama 3", compliance with Meta's brand guidelinesMinor2
3 → 3.1Minor2, restriction on products/services (including another AI model) or outputs/results derived from MaterialsMinor2
3.1 → 3.2Minor2Minor2, restriction: circumventing/removing usage restrictions or safety measures; prohibition: generating unlawful content/conduct; EU-specific multimodal model restrictions
3.2 → 3.3Minor2, minor wording adjustment (two-word reformatting)Minor2, restriction: identity/health/demographic data without rights; compliance: U.S. Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act (1989), Chemical Weapons Convention Act (1997)
If you'd like to inspect the changes yourself, here is what I did 

$ # start comparison
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama2_license.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_license.txt
$ # versions, dates, "prominently display “Built with Meta Llama 3”",  You will comply with Meta’s brand guidelines
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama3_license.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_1_license.txt
$ # dates, versions, or a product or service (including another AI model), or any outputs or results of the Llama Materials,
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama3_1_license.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_2_license.txt
$ # dates and versions
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama3_2_license.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_3_license.txt
$ # dates, versions, two words reformatting
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama2_use_policy.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_use_policy.txt
$ # versions, dates, urls
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama3_use_policy.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_1_use_policy.txt
$ # versions, dates, urls
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama3_1_use_policy.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_2_use_policy.txt
$ # dates, versions, urls, intentionally circumvent or remove usage restrictions or other safety measures, generate unlawful content or engage in unlawful or harmful conduct, EU specific restrictions for multimodal models
$ wdiff -t static/archive/licenses/llama3_2_use_policy.txt static/archive/licenses/llama3_3_use_policy.txt
$ # versions, dates, urls, identity, health, or demographic, unless you have obtained the right to do so in accordance with, U.S. Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989 or the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1997,
  • 1

    Since Meta restricts some usage of the models via their license and use policies, and only provide the weights themselves, it's currently disputed if calling them "Open Source" is actually accurate or not

  • 2

    Minor recurring updates to versions, dates, URLs