Open-source model
Also known as: OSS model
An open-source model is one released under a genuinely permissive license — you can run it, modify it, and usually share it and build products on it.
The spectrum:
| Term | Can you run it? | Can you modify? | Can you sell? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed / API-only | no (via provider) | no | via provider |
| Open weights | yes | sometimes | sometimes |
| Open source | yes | yes | usually yes |
Practical tip: for most people, "open weights you can run locally" is the useful category. Check the specific license (Llama's, Mistral's, etc.) before betting a business on it.