dbrx

One thing I wanted to add and call attention to is the importance of licensing in open models. This is often overlooked when we blindly accept the vague branding of models as “open”, but I am noticing that many open weight models are actually using encumbered proprietary licenses rather than standard open source licenses that are OSI approved (https://opensource.org/licenses). As an example, Databricks’s DBRX model has a proprietary license that forces adherence to their highly restrictive Acceptable Use Policy by referencing a live website hosting their AUP (https://github.com/databricks/dbrx/blob/main/LICENSE), which means as they change their AUP, you may be further restricted in the future. Meta’s Llama is similar (https://github.com/meta-llama/llama/blob/main/LICENSE ). I’m not sure who can depend on these models given this flaw.

Yes, there are using different wording in different articles: https://www.databricks.com/blog/introducing-dbrx-new-state-a... The only mention of open source is: > DBRX outperforms established open source models https://www.databricks.com/blog/announcing-dbrx-new-standard... Open source is mentioned 10+ times > Databricks is the only end-to-end platform to build high quality AI applications, and the release today of DBRX, the highest quality open source model to date, is an expression of that capability https://github.com/databricks/dbrx On Github it's described as an open license, not an open source license: > DBRX is a large language model trained by Databricks, and made available under an open license.

Sorry, I forgot to link the repository [1] and missed the edit window by the time I realized. The bottom of the README.md [2] contains the following license grant with the misleading "Open Source" term: > License > Our model weights and code are licensed for both researchers and commercial entities. The Databricks Open Source License can be found at LICENSE, and our Acceptable Use Policy can be found here. [1] https://github.com/databricks/dbrx [2] https://github.com/databricks/dbrx/blob/main/README.md

Looking at the license restrictions: https://github.com/databricks/dbrx/blob/main/LICENSE "If, on the DBRX version release date, the monthly active users of the products or services made available by or for Licensee, or Licensee’s affiliates, is greater than 700 million monthly active users in the preceding calendar month, you must request a license from Databricks, which we may grant to you in our sole discretion, and you are not authorized to exercise any of the rights under this Agreement unless or until Databricks otherwise expressly grants you such rights." I'm glad to see they aren't calling it open source, unlike some LLM projects. Looking at you LLama 2.