Publishing Licenses
Analysis results of open source software licenses for the Itqan community
Types of Licenses
Copyleft Licenses
Require that modifications remain open source to ensure development based on community contribution. Examples: GNU AGPLv3 and GNU GPLv3.
Permissive Licenses
Allow the use of modifications in both open source and proprietary projects. Examples: MIT and Apache.
Main Requirements
Control of Usage:
Whether commercial or charitable; commercial use includes generating profit through paid applications, advertisements, AI-powered tools, or resale of modified copies.
AI/Machine Learning Restrictions:
Require explicit permission to use the data, with technical measures applied (such as watermarks and metadata addition) to ensure unauthorized exploitation is prevented.
Commitment to Open Source Code Sharing:
In some cases, to ensure community contribution to development.
Comparison of Available Licenses and Their Uses
| License | Type | Key Features | Best For | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNU AGPLv3 | Copyleft | Ensures modifications remain open source even in hosted services | Projects that want to enforce open source code sharing | Does not restrict AI/ML use or distinguish between charitable and commercial use |
| GNU GPLv3 | Copyleft | Ensures modifications remain open source but excludes hosted services | Protecting community code in open source software | No restrictions on AI/ML use or commercial vs. charitable use |
| MIT License | Permissive | Allows broad use including commercial use | Maximizing distribution and collaboration | No protection against AI/ML use or commercial exploitation |
| Apache License | Permissive | Similar to MIT with patent protection | Encouraging innovation and preventing patent disputes | Does not restrict AI/ML use or commercial exploitation |
| Creative Commons (CC BY) | Permissive | Ideal for translations and non-software assets with attribution requirement | Content, multimedia, and documentation | No built-in restrictions on commercial or AI use |
| Mozilla Public License | Weak Copyleft | Allows linking open source code with closed source software | Software integrating with closed source systems | Not strong enough to enforce full open source code sharing |
| Boost Software License | Permissive | Minimal restrictions, often used for C++ libraries | High-performance computing and libraries | No restrictions on AI/ML or commercial use |
Challenges of Current Licenses
Permissive Licenses (MIT, Apache, BSD):
Allow commercial and AI use without restrictions.
Copyleft Licenses (GPL, AGPL):
While requiring open source sharing of modifications, they do not restrict commercial or AI use.
Licenses like Creative Commons BY-NC:
Prohibit commercial use but do not exclusively enforce charitable use nor explicitly limit AI training.
Other Licenses (Hippocratic License, Fair Source License, RPL):
Impose certain restrictions but do not fully cover AI and commercial use needs.