Beyond The Headlines: DeepSeek And The Ongoing Legal Risks Of Open-Source AI

As AI adoption accelerates across Asia following the launch of DeepSeek, a growing number of AI developers are continuing to turn to open-source models to drive faster integration into consumer products and enterprise solutions. Companies like DeepSeek are leading this charge, making powerful AI tools freely available in a bid to lower barriers to entry and encourage innovation. Yet, as open-source AI becomes increasingly embedded in business operations, legal concerns surrounding intellectual property, trade secrets, and data privacy are coming to the fore. Recent debates over the boundaries of open-source use — particularly allegations of proprietary technology being folded into open models — have reignited scrutiny over how businesses can responsibly and lawfully adopt these tools. In this article, we explore the legal implications of leveraging open-source AI models, with a focus on DeepSeek's approach and what it means for businesses navigating this