+
+{{ content }}
+
+
+ - We want to help developers choose a license for their source code. -
-- If you already know what you’re doing and have a license you prefer to use, that’s great! We’re not here to change your mind. But if you are bewildered by the large number of OSS license choices, maybe we can help. -
- -- This site is not a comprehensive directory of open source licenses. If you’re looking for a comprehensive list, we recommend the Open Source Initiative website. -
-- We think there are too many options, which adds to the confusion. On the homepage, we break it down into just three licenses. For the vast majority of projects, these are probably the only three you will need to choose from. Just in case you have specific needs not covered by those three, we also highlight a few other licenses to consider. - - -
- We are not lawyers. Well most of us anyways. It is not the goal of this site to provide legal advice. The goal of this site is to provide a starting point to help you make an informed choice by providing information on popular open source licenses. If you have any questions regarding the right license for your code or any other legal issues relating to it, it’s always best to consult with a professional. -
- - -None of these work for me. Show me more licenses »
-| + {{ page.title }} + | ++ {{ page.description }} View full license » + | +
|---|---|
| {{ type | capitalize }} | +
+
|
+
+ Some communities tend to have specific licenses preferred by the + community. For example, PERL developers often choose the artistic license. +
+ +{% for page in site.pages %} + {% if page.layout == "license" %} + {% if page.featured != true %} +| + {{ page.title }} + | ++ {{ page.description }} View full license » + | +
|---|---|
| {{ type | capitalize }} | +
+
|
+
+---
+title: Affero GPL
+layout: license
+permalink: agpl/
+source: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0-standalone.html
+
+note: The Free Software Foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the license.
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file.
+
+required:
+ - include-copyright
+ - document-changes
+ - disclose-source
+
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - warranty
+
+forbidden:
+ - no-liability
+ - no-sublicense
+
+using:
+ Some Project: "#"
+
+---
+
GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 3, 29 June 2007
@@ -703,71 +702,3 @@ may consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with
the library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Lesser General
Public License instead of this License. But first, please read
{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-not-lgpl.html}.
-
-
+---
+title: Apache v2 License
+layout: license
+permalink: apache/
+
+featured: true
+
+description: A permissive license that also grants a license to patent claims from contributors that are necessarily infringed by the software.
+
+note: The Apache Foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the header of each source file. You can find the notice at the very end of the license in the appendix.
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file.
+
+source: http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+
+required:
+ - include-copyright
+ - include-license
+ - document-changes
+
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - sublicense
+ - warranty
+
+forbidden:
+ - no-warranty
+ - trademark-use
+---
+
Apache License
Version 2.0, January 2004
http://www.apache.org/licenses/
@@ -220,70 +221,3 @@ third-party archives.
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.
-
-
+---
+layout: license
+title: Artistic License 2.0
+permalink: /artistic/
+
+source: http://opensource.org/licenses/Artistic-2.0
+
+description: A license that’s heavily favored by the PERL community.
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file. Replace {year} with the current year and {copyright holders} with the name (or names) of the copyright holders.
+
+required:
+ - include-copyright
+ - document-changes
+ - disclose-source
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - sublicense
+ - private-use
+forbidden:
+ - no-liability
+ - trademark-use
+---
+
Artistic License 2.0
Copyright (c) 2000-2006, The Perl Foundation.
@@ -191,69 +186,3 @@ UNLESS REQUIRED BY LAW, NO COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTOR WILL BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING IN ANY WAY
OUT OF THE USE OF THE PACKAGE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
-
-
-Copyright (c) {year}, {copyright holder}
-All rights reserved.
-
-Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
-
-Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
-Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
-Neither the name of the {organization} nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
-THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
-
-
-Copyright (c) {year}, {copyright holder}
-All rights reserved.
-
-Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
-are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
-
-Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list
-of conditions and the following disclaimer.
-Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this
-list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
-other materials provided with the distribution.
-Neither the name of the {organization} nor the names of its contributors may be
-used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific
-prior written permission.
-
-THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
-ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
-WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
-DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
-ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
-(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
-LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
-ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
-(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
-SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
-
- +--- +layout: license +title: Eclipse Public License v1.0 +permalink: eclipse/ + +description: Used by the Eclipse foundation for its software, this license includes reciprocal requirements in some cases. + +how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file. + +source: http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html + +required: + - disclose-source + - include-license + +permitted: + - commercial-use + - distribution + - modifications + - sublicense + - warranty + +forbidden: + - no-liability + - trademark-use + +--- Eclipse Public License - v 1.0 THE ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM IS PROVIDED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS ECLIPSE PUBLIC @@ -227,66 +223,3 @@ intellectual property laws of the United States of America. No party to this Agreement will bring a legal action under this Agreement more than one year after the cause of action arose. Each party waives its rights to a jury trial in any resulting litigation. --
+---
+title: GPL v2
+layout: license
+permalink: gpl-v2/
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file.
+
+note: The Free Software Foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the license.
+
+required:
+ - include-copyright
+ - document-changes
+ - disclose-source
+
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - warranty
+
+forbidden:
+ - no-liability
+ - no-sublicense
+
+---
+
GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, June 1991
@@ -368,71 +363,3 @@ proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you may
consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with the
library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Lesser General
Public License instead of this License.
-
-
+---
+title: GPL v3
+layout: license
+permalink: gpl-v3/
+
+featured: true
+
+description: GPL is the most widely used free software license and is fully reciprocal. Derived works must be distributed under the same license.
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file.
+
+note: The Free Software Foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the license.
+
+required:
+ - include-copyright
+ - document-changes
+ - disclose-source
+
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - warranty
+
+forbidden:
+ - no-liability
+ - no-sublicense
+
+---
GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 3, 29 June 2007
@@ -703,71 +701,3 @@ may consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with
the library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Lesser General
Public License instead of this License. But first, please read
{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-not-lgpl.html}.
-
- | - MIT - | -- A permissive license that is short and to the point. It lets people do anything with your code with proper attribution and without warranty. View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - Apache - | -- A permissive license that also grants a license to patent claims from contributors - that are necessarily infringed by the software. View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - GPL v2 / v3 / Affero - | -- GPL is the most widely used free software license and is fully reciprocal. Derived - works must be distributed under the same license. - View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
- Some communities tend to have specific licenses preferred by the - community. For example, PERL developers often choose the artistic license. -
-| - Artistic - | -- A license that’s heavily favored by the PERL community. - View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - BSD - | -- A permissive license that comes in two variants, the BSD 2-Clause and BSD 3-Clause. Both have very minute differences to the MIT license. - View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - Eclipse - | -- Used by the Eclipse foundation for its software, this license includes reciprocal requirements in - some cases. View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - Mozilla - | -- The Mozilla Public License (MPL 2.0) is maintained by the Mozilla foundation. This license attempts to be a compromise between the permissive BSD license and the reciprocal GPL license. - View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - LGPL v2.1 - | -- Primarily used for software libraries, LGPL requires that derived works be licensed under the same license, but - works that only link to it do not fall under this restriction. - View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
| - LGPL v3 - | -- Version 3 of the LGPL is an additional set of permissions to the GPL v3 license - that requires that derived works be licensed under the same license, but works that only link to - it do not fall under this restriction. - View full license » - | -
|---|---|
| Required | -
-
|
-
| Permitted | -
-
|
-
| Forbidden | -
-
|
-
+---
+layout: license
+title: LGPL v2.1
+permalink: lgpl-v2.1/
+
+description: Primarily used for software libraries, LGPL requires that derived works be licensed under the same license, but works that only link to it do not fall under this restriction.
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file.
+
+note: The Free Software Foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the license.
+
+required:
+ - include-copyright
+ - nonstatic-linkage
+
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - sublicense
+
+forbidden:
+ - no-liability
+
+---
+
GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2.1, February 1999
@@ -531,69 +526,3 @@ necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:
Ty Coon, President of Vice
That's all there is to it!
-
- +--- +layout: license +title: LGPL v3 +permalink: lgpl-v3/ + +description: Version 3 of the LGPL is an additional set of permissions to the GPL v3 license that requires that derived works be licensed under the same license, but works that only link to it do not fall under this restriction. + +how: This license is an additional set of permissions to the GPL v3 license. Follow the instructions to apply the GPL v3 license. Then either paste this text to the bottom of that file OR add a separate file (typically named COPYING.lesser or LICENSE.lesser) in the root of your source code and copy the text. + +note: The Free Software Foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the license. + +required: + - include-copyright + - nonstatic-linkage + +permitted: + - commercial-use + - modifications + - distribution + - sublicense + +forbidden: + - no-liability + +--- GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3, 29 June 2007 @@ -194,67 +188,3 @@ whether future versions of the GNU Lesser General Public License shall apply, that proxy's public statement of acceptance of any version is permanent authorization for you to choose that version for the Library. --
-Copyright (c) {year} {copyright holders}
-
-Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
-this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
-the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
-use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of
-the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
-subject to the following conditions:
-
-The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
-copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-
-THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
-FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
-COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER
-IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN
-CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-
-
+---
+layout: license
+title: Mozilla Public License Version 2.0
+permalink: mozilla/
+
+description: The Mozilla Public License (MPL 2.0) is maintained by the Mozilla foundation. This license attempts to be a compromise between the permissive BSD license and the reciprocal GPL license.
+
+how: Create a text file (typically named LICENSE or LICENSE.txt) in the root of your source code and copy the text of the license into the file.
+
+required:
+ - disclose-source
+ - include-copyright
+ - include-license
+
+permitted:
+ - commercial-use
+ - modifications
+ - distribution
+ - sublicense
+ - warranty
+
+forbidden:
+ - no-liability
+ - trademark-use
+
+---
Mozilla Public License, version 2.0
1. Definitions
@@ -382,68 +377,4 @@ Exhibit B - “Incompatible With Secondary Licenses” Notice
This Source Code Form is “Incompatible
With Secondary Licenses”, as defined by
the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.
-
-