Open-source exemption
Article 2(12) exempts AI systems released under a free and open-source licence from the AI Act, but carves that exemption back for systems placed on the market as high-risk, and for those covered by Articles 5 and 50. For GPAI models, Article 53(2) grants a narrower exemption, covering only certain obligations — and even this exemption falls away where systemic risk is present.
The exemption is therefore never absolute, and operates in two separate layers: at the AI-system level, Article 2(12); at the model level, Article 53(2) and Article 54(6). At the system level, release under an open-source licence takes the system outside the Regulation's scope on its own — but only for as long as it is not placed on the market as high-risk, and does not fall within the prohibited practices or the transparency obligations. At the model level, Article 53(2) exempts the provider of an open-source GPAI model from the technical documentation and downstream-information duties, and Article 54(6) from appointing an authorised representative — the copyright compliance policy and the public training-data summary duties remain, however, and the entire exemption falls away where systemic risk is present.
An SME embedding an open-source AI tool should not automatically assume that its open-source nature grants full exemption — the exemption is narrow, and offers no protection where the use is high-risk or prohibited.
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Start freeRelated terms
- General-purpose AI (GPAI)A general-purpose AI model (GPAI) is a model that displays significant generality, is capable of competently performing a wide range of distinct tasks, and can be integrated into a variety of downstream systems. The model itself is a component: it becomes an AI system once combined with a user interface. GPAI models are governed by Articles 51–56; systems built on top of them by Article 50.
- Scope exclusionArticle 2 excludes the AI Act's application in several distinct cases: systems developed and used exclusively for military, defence or national security purposes; systems developed and put into service exclusively for scientific research and development; research and testing activity prior to placing on the market; and a natural person's purely personal, non-professional use. Each exclusion must be interpreted narrowly and by reference to its specific purpose.
- Authorised representativeAn authorised representative is a person established in the Union and mandated in writing by a third-country provider to act on the provider's behalf towards Union authorities. A non-EU provider typically must appoint such a representative — as a condition of entering the Union market — before placing its system on the market.
Related questions in the knowledge base (Hungarian)
- Mentesül-e a nyílt forráskódú AI az EU AI Act alól?Csak részben. A 2. cikk (12) bekezdése mentesíti a szabad és nyílt forráskódú licenc alatt közzétett AI-rendszereket, de kiveszi a mentesség alól a magas kockázatúként forgalomba hozott, valamint az 5. és az 50. cikk hatálya alá eső rendszereket. GPAI-modelleknél az 53. cikk (2) szűkebb mentességet ad.
- Mentesül-e egy nyílt forráskódú AI-modell az AI Act kötelezettségei alól?Csak részben. Az 53. cikk (2) a szabad és nyílt forráskódú modelleket a műszaki dokumentáció és a downstream tájékoztatás alól mentesíti, az 54. cikk (6) a meghatalmazott képviselő kijelölése alól. A szerzői jogi szabályzat és a nyilvános tanítóadat-összefoglaló marad, rendszerszintű kockázatnál pedig a mentesség egésze elesik.