Open Source Software Licences
Reproduced with the kind permission of the Open Source Initiative, the open source software licences contained in this subfolder allow software developers to strike a productive balance between protecting the intellectual property rights in their software and allowing the broader community of computer users to develop enhancements and augmentations.
Please note that under the terms of use of these open source software licences, no modifications may be made to their terms.
Open Source Software Licences is part of Business . Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an open source licence and how does it differ from a normal software licence?
An open source licence lets people freely use, modify and share the software, subject to set conditions, instead of restricting those things. A proprietary licence does the opposite: it limits copying, modification and redistribution to protect the owner. These templates are recognised open source licences reproduced with the permission of the Open Source Initiative. Use them when you want your code used and improved by others, not locked down.
Can I edit these open source licences to fit my project?
No. Under the terms of use these open source licences must not be modified: you use them as they are. The wording is standardised so the licence stays recognisably open source and interoperable, and changing it would undermine that. If the standard conditions do not suit you, choose a different recognised licence or use a proprietary licence instead. Do not amend the text of an open source licence.
If I use open source code in my product, what do I have to do?
Comply with that licence's conditions, which vary. Common ones include keeping copyright notices and the licence text, giving attribution and, for copyleft licences, making your changes available under the same licence if you distribute them. Permissive licences ask little; copyleft licences can require you to open source derived works. So check the specific licence before you build it in, because the obligations differ sharply and can affect your own product.
Are open source licences suitable for commercial use?
Yes. Open source does not mean non-commercial: recognised open source licences allow commercial use, and the Open Source Definition forbids discrimination against any field of use, including business. The catch is the conditions, especially copyleft terms that may require you to share your modifications. So you can use open source commercially, but read the licence so you know what you must give back and whether that fits your product.