License and Acceptable Use¶
BirdNET-STM32 is distributed under two licenses: one for the source code, one for the trained models.
Source code — MIT¶
Everything in the Python package, the CLI, and the project's own firmware sources is licensed under the MIT License.
Model artifacts — Apache License 2.0¶
The trained model artifacts are licensed under the Apache License 2.0. This covers everything a release bundle ships as a model:
- FP32 Keras checkpoints (deployable and pre-QAT)
- Converted
.tfliteand.onnxexports - Ordered label files
- Model configuration JSON
Every release bundle carries a copy of LICENSE-MODELS.md and
ACCEPTABLE_USE.md alongside the models.
Third-party firmware sources¶
The firmware/ directory vendors source files from STMicroelectronics
(BSD-3-Clause) and ChaN's FatFs, which retain their original licenses. See
firmware/THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.md. ST's toolchain (X-CUBE-AI / stedgeai) is
licensed separately by STMicroelectronics — see its own documentation.
Acceptable use¶
The BirdNET Acceptable Use Policy describes how we expect the code and models to be used. In short: BirdNET exists to support biodiversity research, conservation, education, and citizen science, and should not be used to facilitate poaching, to locate sensitive species for harmful purposes, as part of weapons or military targeting systems, or for covert surveillance of people.
The policy is guidance from the project, not an additional condition on either license. Forks and derivative applications should also pick a distinct name rather than reusing BirdNET branding in a way that implies endorsement.
Report misuse or ethical concerns to ccb-birdnet@cornell.edu.