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25 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
25 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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layout: default
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permalink: /community/
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redirect_from: /existing/
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title: Existing projects and communities
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---
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If you're contributing to or extending an existing project, it's almost always easiest to continue using that project's license. To find its license, look for a file called `LICENSE` or `COPYING`, and skim the project's `README`. If you can't find a license, [ask the maintainers](/no-permission/#for-users).
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Depending on the original project's license, using the same license might be a requirement, not just the easiest thing to do. (See the "same license" condition of [some licenses](/licenses/).)
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Some communities have strong preferences for particular licenses. If you want to participate in one of these, it will be easier to use their preferred license, even if you're starting a brand new project with no existing dependencies. Some examples include:
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{: .bullets}
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* [Apache](https://www.apache.org/licenses/) requires [Apache License 2.0](/licenses/apache-2.0/)
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* [Cloud Native Computing Foundation](https://github.com/cncf/toc/blob/master/process/project_proposals.adoc) dictates [Apache License 2.0](/licenses/apache-2.0/) by default
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* [GNU](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-recommendations.html) recommends [GNU GPLv3](/licenses/gpl-3.0/) for most programs
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* [NPM packages](https://libraries.io/search?platforms=NPM) overwhelmingly use the [MIT](/licenses/mit/) or the very similar [ISC](/licenses/isc) licenses
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* [OpenBSD](https://www.openbsd.org/policy.html) prefers the [ISC License](/licenses/isc/)
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* [Rust](https://rust-lang-nursery.github.io/api-guidelines/necessities.html#crate-and-its-dependencies-have-a-permissive-license-c-permissive) crates are overwhelmingly licensed under both [MIT](/licenses/mit/) and [Apache License 2.0](/licenses/apache-2.0/)
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* [WordPress](https://wordpress.org/about/license/) plugins and themes must be [GNU GPLv2](/licenses/gpl-2.0/) (or later)
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Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and more than one community might be pertinent (e.g., keep in mind [your company](https://opensource.guide/legal/#what-does-my-companys-legal-team-need-to-know) if you work for one). The examples above are *very* well established. If the community you're building a project for doesn't have set-in-stone licensing traditions, or you don't see your project as part of any particular community, that's fine: [make your own choice of an open source license](/).
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