What comes first to your mind when you encounter the word License?
Permissions, exactly!
It is a official paper that shows if you’re allowed to do or have something.
What is a “Software” License?
A software license is a legally binding agreement made between the owner or developer of a software program and the user, outlining how they can use and distribute the product. Software licensing terms and conditions usually include fair use of the software, the limitations of liability, warranties, and disclaimers.
What all things a Software License addresses?
Typically, the software license addresses things like:
- If the user can view the underlying source code
- If the user can copy, alter, or redistribute the program
- Where the program can be installed and how frequently
How does this apply to Open Source?
Open Source License serves as a legal agreement between open
source author and user. The author makes OSS available for free,
but with certain requirements, the user must follow. An open-source
license outlines the responsibilities taken on by those who use your
Software. All licenses allow the use, modification, and sharing of software complying with the definition of Open Source.
Popular Licenses :
The following OSI-approved licenses are popular, widely used, or have strong communities:
- Apache License 2.0
- BSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" license
- BSD 2-Clause "Simplified" or "FreeBSD" license
- GNU General Public License (GPL)
- GNU Library or "Lesser" General Public License (LGPL)
- MIT license
- Mozilla Public License 2.0
- Common Development and Distribution License
- Eclipse Public License version 2.0
What makes Software Open Source?
Only if it uses one of the Approved Licenses, and releases appropriate software.
What is a "permissive" Open Source license?
A "permissive" license is simply a non-copyleft open source license — one that guarantees the freedoms to use, modify, and redistribute, but that permits proprietary derivative works.
Is some License an Open Source license, even if it is not listed on the official site?
In general, no. All licenses run through an approval process to provide an accepted standard on which licenses are Open Source, and the approved ones are listed.
Which Open Source license should you choose to release your software under?
A License would depend on the community you’re contributing to or the permissions you want to grant to developers for future use. When you contribute to an existing project, you should usually release your modified versions under the same license as the original work. Using a different license often makes cooperation with the maintainer very difficult. If the version you've created is considerably more useful than the original, then it's worth copylefting your work.
References :
~ Tanmay Patil
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