The android open source project aosp uses a few open source initiative approved open source licenses for our software. Licensed works, modifications, and larger works may be distributed under different terms and without source code. Describes the ability to use the software for commercial purposes. Can i use a apache v2 licensed driver for a commercial. Keep in mind that this is the apache software foundations interpretation of its apache 2.
The information provided here was provided by the entities named, and is not verified or endorsed by the apache software foundation or the apache royale project. Open source licenses are licenses that comply with the open source definition in brief, they allow software to be freely used, modified, and shared. In all cases, there is a file named license in the toplevel of the release. License shall mean the terms and conditions for use, reproduction, and distribution as defined by sections 1 through 9 of this document. Unless otherwise noted all files in xml commons are covered under the apache license version 2.
The commercial license allows oems, isvs and vars to distribute commercial binaries of mysql software with their own commercial software without subjecting that software to the gpl and its requirement to distribute source. This page presents the opinion of some debianlegal contributors on how certain licenses follow the debian free software guidelines dfsg. However, while using apache licensed software in your commercial product, youre still required to follow the terms and conditions that the apache license. It allows users to use the software for any purpose. You can freely use, modify, distribute and sell a software licensed under the apache license without worrying about the use of software. Most of these opinions were formed in discussions on the debianlegal mailing list in response to questions from potential package maintainers or licensors. The lgpl on the other hand has the requirement that either the lgpl library links dynamically and can be replaced by a user or the entire work must be released under a gplcompatible opensource license. Instead, you license the software from the publisher. The question is motivated by their incompatible patent clauses. Comparison of free and opensource software licences. The apache license is a permissive open source software license so you can release your modified version of the apache licensed product under any license of your choice.
So in the apache faq the asf references their own software. The code contains a standard apache license header which refers to the standard apache license in the distribution. If you provide commercial support and would like your company to be listed, please send us an email, and we will work with you to do so. April 2019 licensediscuss summary open source initiative. Can i use an open source library licensed under apache. The comparison only covers software licences with a linked article for details, approved by at least one expert group at the fsf, the osi, the debian project or the fedora project. Most surveys indicate that the vast majority of open source projects use the mit license, the apache license, and the gpl or their variants. However, you must not name your product in a way that it looks like an endorsement from apache. Modifications to the software can be release under any license. It may be possible that other licensors using the apache 2. Corporatefriendly open source licenses stack overflow. It allows users to use the software for any purpose, to distribute it, to modify it, and to distribute modified versions of the software under the terms of the license, without concern for royalties. Xml commons contains some software and documentation that is covered under a number of different licenses.
Contributors provide an express grant of patent rights. Apache royale is a highly productive open source application technology for building expressive frontend applications that outputs to different formats and deploys consistently on all major browsers, desktops and devices. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu. Why are the license files for the different apache software foundation projects. Apache licenses the apache software foundation uses various licenses to distribute software and documentation, to accept regular contributions from individuals and corporations, and to accept larger grants of existing software products. The mpl fills a useful space in the spectrum of free and open source software licenses, sitting between the apache license, which does not require modifications to be shared, and the gnu family of licenses, which requires modifications to be shared under a much broader set of circumstances than the mpl.
The apache license does not place any restrictions on software that links to a plugin or library that is distributed under the apache license. Several companies have built products and services around the apache directory project. Top 10 apache license questions answered whitesource. A short guide to open source licenses smashing magazine. Activemq, cxf, karaf, servicemix, etc for both the commercial and public sector. Nov 08, 2015 linus torvalds says gpl v3 violates everything that gplv2 stood for duration. Available as open source software under the apache license which lets you use lucene in both commercial and open source programs 100%pure java implementations in other programming languages available that are indexcompatible. If you are a commercial software developer that depends on selling your own software in the marketplace, however, it is important to understand the legal. We offer this listing as a service to the ecosystem. This is a comparison of free and opensource software licences. While the project strives to adhere to the preferred license, there.
They allow a user to build commercial software on top of open source software, or extend open source products, and declare their work as. Using apache activemq to help you get started using apache activemq version 5 you may wish to start off with the version 5 getting started guide or the configuring version 5 transports. The freebsd project argues on the advantages of bsdstyle licenses for companies and commercial usecases due to their license compatibility with proprietary licenses and general flexibility, stating that the bsdstyle licenses place only minimal restrictions on future behavior and arent legal timebombs, unlike copyleft licenses. Compliance costs and the apache license the apache openoffice compliance advantages as you probably already know, you dont own software in the same way you own a chair or a desk. The text should be enclosed in the appropriate comment syntax for the file format. This page is dedicated to providing descriptions of those offerings and links to more information. After that you have the no competing commercial product licenses. Can you use software under mit licence for commercial use. The apache software foundation and the free software foundation agree that the apache license 2. The apache software license asl is a license scheme for free and opensource computer software foss written by the apache software foundation asf. Oracle offers a commercial license for all of its mysql software that is embedded in or bundled with another application. Asl allows projects and software to be freely downloaded and used, may it be in whole or in part, for personal, company or commercial purposes and without concern for.
You must also not use any of the apache marks like the multicolored feather anywhere in your product or its documentation. The apache license is a permissive free software license written by the apache software foundation asf. However, you must not name your product in a way that it looks like. We specialize in helping our clients to realize new projects and support the delivery of the project from end to end. It basically says that anyone can do whatever they want with the licensed material, as long as its accompanied by the license. If you were wondering whether you can use apache licensed code in your commercial applications and what do you need to do in order to comply with the license heres the unofficial simple ans short answer. For a list of licences not specifically intended for software, see list of free content licences. Dockers open source components are generally licensed under the apache 2. Bruce perens 1,2,3 affirms that either direction of linking is fine. Jun 21, 2016 the apache license says do whatever you want with this, just dont sue me but does so with many more words, which lawyers like because it adds specificity. The apache netbeans pmc does not and cannot endorse or recommend any products or services. Can i use an open source library licensed under apache license.
How open source licenses work and how to add them to your. Open source licenses grant permission for anybody to use, modify, and share licensed software for any purpose, subject to conditions preserving the provenance and openness of the software. The definition of legal entity in the apache license 2. Copy left is the philosophy of the free software foundation requiring anything incorporating the licensed opens source code to also be licensed as. Bryan christ 1,2 asks whether apachecovered software can link with lgplv2. Requirements for using an apachelicensed library open. I didnt find any definite answers on the web so im asking for a definite answer to the question. It also contains a patent license and retaliation clause which is designed to prevent patents including patent trolls from encumbering the software project. Code developed elsewhere, licensed to apache under a software grant agreement, incorporated into apache projects, distributed by apache, and licensed to downstream users under the apache license. Openssl is covered by one of two licenses, depending on which release is involved. All packages produced by the asf are implicitly licensed under the apache license, version 2.
If its worth money to you its important to get your licensing right. Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files the software, to deal in the software without restriction, including wit. Apache licensing and distribution faq apache software. To be listed in this page please send an email to the apache netbeans pmc see mailing lists with a description of your offerings and the text you would like to have added. Tldrlegal software licenses explained in plain english. Am i allowed to sell software that was written completely by myself except for the zxing library licensed under apache license 2. Furthermore, even if creative commons is not widely used for software development, some options are business friendly. I am not sure whether or how to indicate changes in a binaryonly distribution, as apparently required by section b, but i suppose you could include that information in an about screen in your application. I recommend the apache license specifically, version 2. It offers the same patent usage protection as gplv3. The apache license does not place any restrictions on software that links to a plug in or library that is distributed under the apache license. Not all the libraries using the apache license are from the apache software foundation asf. All in all, the most acknowledged business friendly license are imho the apache license, the artistic license and the mozilla public license. If you have some code you are thinking of releasing under an open source license, and you want a quick overview of the broadstrokes differences between these licenses, you have come to the right place.
However, while using apache licensed software in your commercial product, you re still required to follow the terms and conditions that the apache license. Can i use a apache v2 licensed driver for a commercial project. A permissive license whose main conditions require preservation of and license notices. The terms state that users cant remove existing, patent, trademarks and attribution notices. Apache spark is delivered based on the apache license, a free and liberal software license that allows you to use, modify, and share any apache software product for personal, research, commercial, or open source development purposes for free. The apache license asl is a permissive free software license written by the apache software foundation asf. Mar 24, 2010 the mit license is the least restrictive license out there. Subject to the terms and conditions of this license, each contributor hereby grants to you a perpetual, worldwide, nonexclusive, nocharge, royaltyfree, irrevocable except as stated in this section patent license to make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell, import, and otherwise transfer the work, where such license applies only to those.
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