Commercial Use and Attribution for Microsoft Sample Financial Dataset
Question details
The user wants to know if the Microsoft sample financial dataset can be used commercially without providing attribution.

- Product
- Microsoft Sample Financial Dataset
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Utilizing a sample dataset for a commercial project and determining legal attribution requirements.
- Observed behavior
- Seeking clarification on whether commercial use is permitted under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license without giving credit.
Before integrating the dataset into any commercial project, ensure you have located and read the original LICENSE file provided in the dataset's repository to confirm its exact terms.
Comply with Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Requirements
The dataset is distributed under CC BY 4.0, which explicitly allows commercial use as long as proper attribution is given.
The Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license is designed to facilitate sharing. It permits you to copy, distribute, and adapt the dataset for commercial purposes, provided you give appropriate credit.
Check the dataset's official repository for the specific licensing terms and any specific attribution guidelines provided by the owner.
Include the copyright notice in your commercial product, provide a link to the CC BY 4.0 license, and indicate if any changes were made to the dataset.

Request Permission for Non-Attributed Use
If your commercial use case strictly prohibits displaying attribution, you must seek an exemption from the copyright holder.
Analyze Financial Datasets Seamlessly with WPS Office
While ensuring proper licensing for Microsoft sample datasets, you can use WPS Office as a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for opening, editing, and visualizing your financial data.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open your financial dataset: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the downloaded sample financial dataset (CSV or XLSX).
- 3. Analyze and visualize: Use built-in data tools like PivotTables, filters, and charts to extract insights for your commercial project.

Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license allow?
The CC BY 4.0 license allows you to share, copy, distribute, and adapt the dataset for any purpose, including commercial use, provided you give appropriate credit to the creator.
Where can I get additional help with Microsoft Power BI datasets?
For more specific Power BI questions and dataset usage, you can visit the official Power BI forums at community.fabric.microsoft.com.
Can I claim ownership of the sample financial dataset after adapting it?
No. You can use and adapt the dataset for commercial and non-commercial projects according to the CC BY 4.0 license, but the original copyright remains with Microsoft. You must state what changes were made without implying the creator endorses your adapted version.




