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China’s MiniMax curbs overseas access to new AI video model over copyright disputes

H3 model enters the generative video battleground, but licensing carve-outs restrict use in US, EU, UK and South Korea

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MiniMax says it will review deployment scenarios and compliance controls before it can authorise use of the H3 model in some major markets. Photo: Shutterstock
Minxiao Changin Shenzhen
Chinese artificial intelligence company MiniMax has open-sourced its new H3 video model but imposed licensing conditions on users in major overseas markets including the US and European Union, underscoring the copyright challenges in generative video AI.

After the Shanghai-based company released the model’s weights to developers on Monday, users found that the licence restricted free access in the US, EU, UK and South Korea.

The weights – the underlying parameters that encode its intelligence – allow developers to use, copy, modify and distribute the software without paying MiniMax.

To ensure compliance, developers in major markets must “apply for a formal licence”, the company said.

MiniMax said that once it had reviewed deployment scenarios and confirmed that appropriate compliance controls and safeguards were in place, it could authorise usage.

Access via application programming interface – a paid subscription through the firm’s website or authorised third parties – remained globally available, it said.

MiniMax said the regional carve-out was due to regulatory uncertainties and ongoing copyright-related legal proceedings.

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