The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References BSD licenses Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento April, 2008 Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses Main characteristics I users are free to redistribute derivative works in source or binary form I really lightweight restrictions (mainly related to a copyright notice) I no need to use the name of the contributors (3rd clause) I copyleft The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References Key points of the BSD licenses BSD licenses are a family of permissive and concise software licences, originally used for the Berkeley Software Distribution O.S. (1980) and then revised several times. Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References Key points of the BSD licenses BSD licenses are a family of permissive and concise software licences, originally used for the Berkeley Software Distribution O.S. (1980) and then revised several times. Main characteristics I users are free to redistribute derivative works in source or binary form I really lightweight restrictions (mainly related to a copyright notice) I no need to use the name of the contributors (3rd clause) I copyleft Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses COPYLEFT and DERIVATIVE WORKS GPLv3 is a viral license BSD ”Take it down to the copycenter and make as many copies as you want”. Free creation of derivative works also to be used in proprietary/commercial software for which the source code is kept secret (Apple OSX) The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References Main differences (1/2) RIGHTS In both cases a user can modify the code, can create derivative works and must attach the copyright notice, but: GPLv3 a user cannot ask money for redistribution of the software and cannot create binary BSD a user can ask money for his derivative works, which can be also be distributed in binary Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References Main differences (1/2) RIGHTS In both cases a user can modify the code, can create derivative works and must attach the copyright notice, but: GPLv3 a user cannot ask money for redistribution of the software and cannot create binary BSD a user can ask money for his derivative works, which can be also be distributed in binary COPYLEFT and DERIVATIVE WORKS GPLv3 is a viral license BSD ”Take it down to the copycenter and make as many copies as you want”. Free creation of derivative works also to be used in proprietary/commercial software for which the source code is kept secret (Apple OSX) Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses COMPATIBILITY WITH GPL original BSD incompatible due to the presence of the advertising clause ”This product includes software developed by the University of California, Berkeley and its contributors.” revised BSD compatible: the BSD licensed code can be combined with the GPL without conflict The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References Main differences (2/2) SOFTWARE PATENTS GPLv2 no explicit patent license GPLv3 patents cannot be used to render the program non-free BSD probably does not grant patent (the license grants copyright use rights simply by saying the word ”use” which is widely known to be ambiguous) Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References Main differences (2/2) SOFTWARE PATENTS GPLv2 no explicit patent license GPLv3 patents cannot be used to render the program non-free BSD probably does not grant patent (the license grants copyright use rights simply by saying the word ”use” which is widely known to be ambiguous) COMPATIBILITY WITH GPL original BSD incompatible due to the presence of the advertising clause ”This product includes software developed by the University of California, Berkeley and its contributors.” revised BSD compatible: the BSD licensed code can be combined with the GPL without conflict Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses The BSD licenses BSD vs GPLv3 References References The Linux Information Project, BSD License Definition http://www.linfo.org/bsdlicense.html Feature: GPL vs BSD, Joe Drew http://slashdot.org/articles/99/06/23/1313224.shtml BSD license article on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSD license BSD and patents http://labs.metacarta.com/license-explanation.html The BSD license problem http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/bsd.html Michele Pedrolli DISI, University of Trento BSD licenses.