# What Is the License for AI-For-Beginners? MIT License Explained

> Understand the MIT License for the Microsoft AI-For-Beginners repository. Learn about its permissive terms for use, modification, and distribution.

- Repository: [Microsoft/AI-For-Beginners](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-08-24

---

**The AI-For-Beginners repository from Microsoft is released under the MIT License**, a permissive open-source license that allows unrestricted use, modification, distribution, and even commercial use with minimal requirements.

The AI-For-Beginners curriculum—Microsoft's comprehensive educational resource for artificial intelligence fundamentals—is freely available to learners, educators, and developers worldwide. Understanding the AI-For-Beginners license terms ensures you can confidently use, adapt, and share this educational content within legal boundaries.

## Where the MIT License Is Documented

The authoritative license text resides in the repository's top-level file structure. According to the source code, three primary locations confirm the licensing terms:

- **`LICENSE`** — The root-level file containing the complete MIT License text
- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/README.md)** — Displays a GitHub license badge linking directly to the same file
- **Translation copies** — Distributed across language folders such as [`lessons/sketchnotes/LICENSE.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/lessons/sketchnotes/LICENSE.md) and equivalents under `translations/*/lessons/sketchnotes/`

These redundant copies ensure consistent licensing regardless of which language version or lesson module you access.

## What the MIT License Permits

The MIT License grants broad permissions with minimal restrictions. As implemented in microsoft/AI-For-Beginners, you may:

- **Use** the curriculum for personal, educational, or commercial purposes
- **Copy** and distribute the original or modified materials
- **Modify** lessons, code examples, and sketchnotes
- **Merge** content with other projects or curricula
- **Publish** derivative works
- **Sublicense** to others
- **Sell** copies or derivative materials

The sole requirement: preserve the original copyright notice and permission notice in all copies or substantial portions.

## How to Properly Attribute the AI-For-Beginners License

When incorporating materials from this repository into your own projects, include proper attribution. Below are reference implementations for common use cases.

### Python Module Header

Add this license header to Python scripts derived from the curriculum:

```python
"""
MIT License

Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.
"""

def hello_ai():
    print("Hello, AI Beginner!")

```

### Jupyter Notebook Attribution

For markdown cells in notebooks, use this concise format:

```markdown
**License:** This notebook is provided under the **MIT License**. 
See the full text at https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/LICENSE

```

## Comparing AI-For-Beginners License to Other Microsoft Educational Repositories

Microsoft maintains multiple AI education repositories with varying license terms. The AI-For-Beginners MIT License aligns with Microsoft's broader open-source strategy for educational content, prioritizing maximum accessibility over restrictive copyleft requirements. This permissive approach distinguishes it from GPL-licensed projects that would impose derivative work obligations.

## Summary

- **AI-For-Beginners uses the MIT License**, confirmed in `LICENSE` and [`README.md`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/README.md)
- **Minimal requirements**: Include copyright and permission notices
- **Maximum freedom**: Commercial use, modification, and distribution all permitted
- **Multiple file locations**: Root `LICENSE` plus translation-folder copies ensure consistent terms
- **Proper attribution**: Use standard MIT header format or markdown badge link

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is AI-For-Beginners free for commercial use?

Yes. The MIT License explicitly permits commercial use, including incorporating lessons into paid courses, using sketchnotes in commercial presentations, or selling modified versions of the curriculum. No licensing fees or royalties apply.

### Do I need to share my modifications under the same license?

No. Unlike copyleft licenses such as GPL, the MIT License does not require you to distribute derivative works under identical terms. You may keep modifications proprietary or apply any license to your derived materials, provided you retain the original MIT License notice for the portions derived from AI-For-Beginners.

### Where can I view the complete license text?

The full license resides at `https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/LICENSE`. Each language translation folder contains an identical copy to ensure localized access to licensing terms.

### What year is listed in the copyright notice?

The copyright notice references "Microsoft Corporation" without a specific year range in the standard MIT License template. Check the actual `LICENSE` file for any date-specific information, as Microsoft may update this when releasing new versions.