| Differences Between Open Source Licenses |
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| OpenSource Definitions |
GNU.org License Categories
OpenSource.org Open Source Definitions
OpenSource.org Open Source Definitions
CroftSoft.com Open Source Definitions
Debian.org DFSG FAQ
- GPL is ...
- GPL compatible, GPL compliant is ...
- CopyLeft is ...
- OpenSource is ...
- Free Sofware is ...
- Free beer is ...
- commercial use is ..
- copyright is ..
- contract is ..
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| OpenSource Features or Requirements |
- See the OpenSource Definitions
- Some OpenSource Features for comparison between different licenses
- "you", as the recepient of the opensource software ( GPL or other licenses )
- can you Redistribute as desired
- can you modify it as desired
- can you modify it and redistribute, but keeping original copyright/license
- can you modify it and redistribute, and copyright/trademark it as your own
- can you provide binary only or proprietory widgets bundled with it
- what do you need to pass along to your customers
- can you use for internal purposes as desired
- can you sell it if you so desire ( but, remember the software itself is free )
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| OpenSource Packages |
DWheeler.com of the 32,592 Open Source Packages ( as of Nov 10, 2003 )
about 69.66% are GPL
about 5.29% are LGPL
about 4.82% are BSD-variants
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| GPL License Compatibility |
DWheeler.com Licenses Compatible with GPL
GPL GNU General Public License
LGPL GNU Lesser General Public License
MITX The (original) MIT License
BSD The (new) BSD License
CroftSoft.com Open Source License Comparison
PD AFL CPL LGPL OSL GPL
Maintain Attribution and Disclaimer N Y Y Y Y Y
Must Distribute Modified Source N N Y Y Y Y
Same License for Larger Work N N N N Y Y
See CroftSoft.com abvove for definitions and explanation
Zooko.com Quick Reference For Choosing a Free Software License
License
| hackers like to accept code under it
| | combine with proprietary and redistribute
| | | combine with GPL'ed code and redistribute
| | | | must share source of redistributed version
| | | | | must include patent license with contribution
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v v v v v v
----- --- --- --- --- ---
permissive Y Y Y N N
GNU LGPL Y2 Y1 Y Y Y
GNU GPL ?2 N Y Y Y
Mozilla PL 1.1 Y2 Y N3 Y Y
See Zooko above for definitions and explanation of Y1, Y2, N3, ..
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We are NOT lawyers
Please consult and pay real cash for legal advice from a licensed Attorney in your area
Summary Information provided here is our interpretation only
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