The Open Source Definition
Open source doesn't just mean access to the source code. The
distribution terms of an open-source program must comply with the following
criteria:
(The following information is not part of the Open Source Definition, and it
may change from time to time.)
The GNU GPL,
the LGPL,
the BSD license,
the X Consortium license,
the Artistic,
the MPL
and the QPL
are examples of licenses that we consider conformant to the
Open Source Definition.
To have a license reviewed for certification, write certification@opensource.org.
We strongly encourage use of already-certified licenses from the above list,
since this allows use of the Open Source mark without the need for review.
Please report misuse of the Open Source mark to mark-misuse@opensource.org.
1.1 -- added LGPL to clause 10.
1.2 -- added public-domain to clause 10.
1.3 -- retitled clause 10 and split off the license list,
adding material on procedures.
1.4 -- Now explicit about source code requirement for PD software.
1. Free Redistribution
The license may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the
software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing
programs from several different sources. The license may not require a
royalty or other fee for such sale.
(rationale)
2. Source Code
The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in
source code as well as compiled form. Where some form of a product is
not distributed with source code, there must be a well-publicized
means of downloading the source code, without charge, via the
Internet. The source code must be the preferred form in which a
programmer would modify the program. Deliberately obfuscated source
code is not allowed. Intermediate forms such as the output of a
preprocessor or translator are not allowed. (rationale)
3. Derived Works
The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow
them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original
software.
(rationale)
4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code.
The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified
form only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with
the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time.
The license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from
modified source code. The license may require derived works to carry a
different name or version number from the original software.
(rationale)
5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups.
The license must not discriminate against any person or group of persons.
(rationale)
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor.
The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in
a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program
from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research.
(rationale)
7. Distribution of License.
The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the program
is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional license
by those parties.
(rationale)
8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product.
The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being
part of a particular software distribution. If the program is extracted
from that distribution and used or distributed within the terms of the
program's license, all parties to whom the program is redistributed should
have the same rights as those that are granted in conjunction with the
original software distribution.
(rationale)
9. License Must Not Contaminate Other Software.
The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed
along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist
that all other programs distributed on the same medium must be open-source
software.
(rationale)
10. Conforming Licenses and Certification.
Any software that uses licenses that are certified conformant to the Open
Source Definition may use the Open Source trademark, as may source code
explicitly placed in the public domain. No other license or software is
certified to use the Open Source trademark.Change history:
1.0 -- identical to DFSG, except for addition of MPL and QPL to clause 10.