Frequently asked questions

There are no license exemptions for commercial users. The database published by OpenSanctions is shared under the conditions of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial License. In short, this means that the data is free to use for non-commercial uses such as academic research, activism or hobbyist analysis. Beyond the definition of non-commercial use provided by Creative Commons, we also grant a zero-cost license to the groups listed below:

• any journalistic media that publish their findings in the public interest
• advocacy and non-profit groups working to improve democratic governance
• any public institution of a country invaded by the Russian Armed Forces (UA, GE, MD).

We also consider the screening of your clients or suppliers a commercial use case that requires a data license (even though that does not generate revenue – it’s just the cost of compliance and of respecting the law). Please get in touch to learn more about our internal use case licensing designed to cover you.

How can I get a free API key?

We issue free API keys to journalists, anti-corruption activists and academic research projects related to sanctions policy. To request a free key, please sign up (using a work email address, if you have one) and fill out the form provided. For many news organizations (including all GIJN member organizations), NGOs and academic institutions, free API keys will be generated automatically based on your email address.

Please note that operating the API is not free for us. Hobbyists, OSINT enthusiasts without a public interest mandate and computer science students are encouraged to use the bulk data or self-hosted API if they wish to explore the data.