# Open Source Software Licenses ## See also ### [[Open-Core]] ## Resources ### [The Open Source Definition](https://opensource.org/osd) by the [[Open Source Initiative]] Projects with licenses that meet these requirements are "officially" open-source (as opposed to e.g. [[Source Available Software Licenses|source available]] software licenses) ### [choosealicense.com](https://choosealicense.com/) by [[GitHub]] ### [Licensing a repository](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/managing-your-repositorys-settings-and-features/customizing-your-repository/licensing-a-repository) help article by [[GitHub]] ### [Selling Exceptions to the GNU GPL](## Selling Exceptions to the GNU GPL) By [[Richard Stallman]], dated 2009-2017 ## `choosealicense.com` ### Existing projects and communities 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: - [Apache](https://www.apache.org/licenses/) requires [Apache License 2.0](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/apache-2.0/) - [Cloud Native Computing Foundation](https://github.com/cncf/toc/blob/master/process/project_proposals.adoc) dictates [Apache License 2.0](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/apache-2.0/) by default - [GNU](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-recommendations.html) recommends [GNU GPLv3](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/gpl-3.0/) for most programs - [NPM packages](https://libraries.io/search?platforms=NPM) overwhelmingly use the [MIT](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/mit/) or the very similar [ISC](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/isc) licenses - [OpenBSD](https://www.openbsd.org/policy.html) prefers the [ISC License](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/isc/) - [Rust](https://rust-lang.github.io/api-guidelines/necessities.html#crate-and-its-dependencies-have-a-permissive-license-c-permissive) crates are overwhelmingly licensed under both [MIT](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/mit/) and [Apache License 2.0](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/apache-2.0/) - [WordPress](https://wordpress.org/about/license/) plugins and themes must be [GNU GPLv2](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/gpl-2.0/) (or later) ### MIT License https://choosealicense.com/licenses/mit/#suggest-this-license A short and simple permissive license with conditions only requiring preservation of copyright and license notices. Licensed works, modifications, and larger works may be distributed under different terms and without source code. ![[Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 9.35.29 AM.png]] ### Apache License 2.0 A permissive license whose main conditions require preservation of copyright and license notices. Contributors provide an express grant of patent rights. Licensed works, modifications, and larger works may be distributed under different terms and without source code. ![[Screen Shot 2021-08-03 at 9.37.01 AM.png]] ### No License https://choosealicense.com/no-permission/ When you make a creative work (which includes code), the work is under exclusive copyright by default. Unless you include a license that specifies otherwise, nobody else can copy, distribute, or modify your work without being at risk of take-downs, shake-downs, or litigation. Once the work has other contributors (each a copyright holder), “nobody” starts including you.