Comment by HPsquared
1 day ago
This is the right terminology. Model weights are literally compiled binary data; they are the output of an algorithm run on a bunch of source data. That training dataset is the "source" of the model. Training data (or the scripts used to generate it) is human-readable and modifiable, like source code. Binary weights are not.
Just to note though, source copyright extends to its compiled form. There is probably an analogue there for model weights.
Tell me about the companies that own the copyrights to their training data.
Binary weights can still be "edited" with additional training.
Binary executables can also be edited after compilation.