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https://github.com/github/choosealicense.com
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51 lines
2.3 KiB
HTML
51 lines
2.3 KiB
HTML
---
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layout: default
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class: home
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hide_breadcrumbs: true
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title: Choosing an OSS license doesn’t need to be scary
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description: A site to provide non-judgmental guidance on choosing a license for your open source project
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---
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<h2>
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<span>{</span>
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Which of the following best describes your situation?
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<span>}</span>
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</h2>
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<ul class="situations cf">
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<li class='whatever'>
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<a href="licenses/mit"><img height='57' src='images/three-arrows@2x.png' width='72'></a>
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<h3><a href="licenses/mit">I want it simple and permissive.</a></h3>
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<p>
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The <a href="licenses/mit">MIT License</a> is a permissive license that is short and to the point. It lets people do anything they want with your code as long as they provide attribution back to you and don’t hold you liable.
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</p>
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<p>
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<strong>jQuery</strong> and <strong>Rails</strong> use the MIT License.
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</p>
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</li>
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<li class='patents'>
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<a href="licenses/apache"><img height='72' src='images/lightbulb@2x.png' width='43'></a>
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<h3><a href="licenses/apache">I’m concerned about patents.</a></h3>
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<p>
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The <a href="licenses/apache/">Apache License</a> is a permissive license similar to the MIT License, but also provides an express grant of patent rights from contributors to users.
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</p>
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<p>
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<strong>Apache</strong>, <strong>SVN</strong>, and <strong>NuGet</strong> use the Apache License.
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</p>
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</li>
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<li class='copyleft'>
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<a href="licenses/gpl-v2"><img height='69' src='images/circular@2x.png' width='72'></a>
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<h3><a href="licenses/gpl-v2">I care about sharing improvements.</a></h3>
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<p>
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The GPL (<a href="licenses/gpl-v2">V2</a> or <a href="licenses/gpl-v3">V3</a>) is a copyleft license that requires anyone distributing the code, or a derivative work of the code, to make the complete source available under the same terms to whomever they distribute to. V3 is similar to V2, but further restricts use in hardware that forbids software alterations.
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</p>
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<p>
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<strong>Linux</strong>, <strong>Git</strong>, and <strong>WordPress</strong> use the GPL.
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</p>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<div class="see-more callout">
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<p>What if none of these work for me or I want to retain all of my rights? <a href="licenses">More licenses are available</a>.</p>
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<p>What if I don't want to choose a license? <a href="no-license">You don't have to</a>.</p>
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</div>
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