What is an open-source software license?

An open-source software license generally grants the licensee the right to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute software in source code form for free. Certain nonprofit organizations – such as the Open Source Initiative and the Free Software Foundation – have published definitions of open-source licenses that have some general acceptance in the technology industry.

For example, the criteria for open-source software licenses under the definition the Open Source Initiative has published includes, in relevant part, the following:

• Permission to redistribute the software.
• Permission to access the software’s source code, and permission to distribute source code as well as object code.
• Permission to create modifications and derivative works of the software.
• The licensed rights extend to all recipients/users of the applicable software.
• Rights granted are not conditioned on the use of the licensed software in specific products, technologies or interfaces.

Related FAQs

• What are the common types of open-source software licenses?
• What are the best practices for using open-source software in a company's business?
• What are some key steps I can take to protect company intellectual property during the early stages of my company's lifecycle?