Open-Source License
An Open-Source License is a software license that is a legal instrument that enables individuals to use, modify, and distribute software with few restrictions.
- Context:
- It can be applied to Open-Source Software.
- It can range from being a Conditional Open-Source License to being a Free Open-Source License.
- Example(s):
- an Apache License.
- a FSF License.
- a GNU General Public License (GPL),
- a MIT License.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- See: Creative Commons License, Free Software License, Copyleft, Open Source Definition, License Compatibility, Computer Software, Source Code, Freeware, Non-Commercial, Open-Source Software, Open Source Initiative.
References
2024
- (GM-RKB ChatGPT, 2024) ⇒ Prompt: Summarize the concept Open-Source License in 1- 2 paragraphs. GM-RKB ChatGPT (model: gpt-4-1106-preview) . Retrieved: 2024-01-14.
- QUOTE: An open-source license is a type of license for computer software that allows the source code to be used, modified, and distributed by anyone. Open-source licenses are designed to encourage collaboration and sharing, promoting the development of the software in a community-driven manner. These licenses help ensure that the software remains free and open, meaning that future developers can access and alter the source code to fit their needs or improve upon the original program.
Open-source licenses vary in the specific terms and conditions they impose, with some being more permissive and others more restrictive. For instance, the MIT License and the Apache License are permissive licenses that have minimal requirements on how the software can be redistributed. In contrast, "copyleft" licenses like the GNU General Public License (GPL) require that the same freedoms be maintained when the software or alterations of it are redistributed, meaning any derivative work must also be released under the same license terms. Choosing the appropriate open-source license is crucial for developers as it dictates how their software can be used and influences the potential for collaborative development.
- QUOTE: An open-source license is a type of license for computer software that allows the source code to be used, modified, and distributed by anyone. Open-source licenses are designed to encourage collaboration and sharing, promoting the development of the software in a community-driven manner. These licenses help ensure that the software remains free and open, meaning that future developers can access and alter the source code to fit their needs or improve upon the original program.
2018
- (Wikipedia, 2018) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_license Retrieved:2018-3-16.
- An open-source license is a type of license for computer software and other products that allows the source code, blueprint or design to be used, modified and/or shared under defined terms and conditions. This allows end users and commercial companies to review and modify the source code, blueprint or design for their own customization, curiosity or troubleshooting needs. Open-source licensed software is mostly available free of charge, though this does not necessarily have to be the case. Licenses which only permit non-commercial redistribution or modification of the source code for personal use only are generally not considered as open-source licenses. However, open-source licenses may have some restrictions, particularly regarding the expression of respect to the origin of software, such as a requirement to preserve the name of the authors and a copyright statement within the code, or a requirement to redistribute the licensed software only under the same license (as in a copyleft license). One popular set of open-source software licenses are those approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) based on their Open Source Definition (OSD).