Software license

Patent
 There is no universal definition.
 Functional expression of an idea - not
the idea itself.
 It is given by a state for a limited period
of time.
 It restricts other from using the invention
without the permission of patent holder.

License
 A license is a kind of a permission.
 Patent holder can grant permission to
use his/her patent by licensing it to
others.
 Software companies/creators license
software to others for using.
 License can cover special agreements
like warranties.

Copyright
 Copyright prevents unauthorized copy.
 Authors can protect their writings,
photographers can protect their
photography.
 Software can be copyrighted to prevent
unauthorized copying of software.
 Software in public domain cannot be
copyrighted.

Copyleft
 Copyleft license is a copyright license.
 Copyleft enable the user to copy,
distribute and modify the work.
 Modified/derived works should be
distributed with the same terms as the
main work.

Some Open Source
Licenses
 GNU GPL
 GNU LGPL
 GNU AGPL
 MIT License
 BSD License
 MPL License

GNU GPL
 Written by Richard Stallman
 Free and open-source license
 Copyleft License
 3 versions released
 Many open source software use open
source license
 Most notably, Linux

GNU GPL
 GPL addressed two problems in
software freedom.
 First problem and solution
 Software were distributed as binary only, no
one can edit.
 GPLv1 said that the source code must be
available under the same license.

GNU GPL (cont.)
 Second problem and solution
 Free software was being combined with
restricted software restricting software
freedom
 GPLv1 said software distributed with GPLv1
licensed software must have the same
permission as GPLv1

BSD License
 There are many versions – Modified BSD
License is most common.
 Free and open-source license.
 There are also Original BSD License and
Free BSD License.
 Permissive License - works based on the
material may be released under a
proprietary license or as closed source
software.
 Notable software – NetBSD, FreeBSD

MIT License
 MIT License is almost as same as BSD
License.
 Does not contain the term prohibiting the
use of the name of the copyright holder
in promotion of derivative work.
 Notable software – X Windowing
System, Mono Development

MPL
 Mozilla Public License
 Most Mozilla Software, Adobe Flex,
Open Solaris use it
 Copyleft License
 It’s licensing is in two parts – initial
author’s right and other people’s rights
 Can be combined with proprietary
software

AGPL
 Affero General Public License
 Mainly used for web services or SaaS
model
 Web services under should provide a
link to download the source code

LGPL
 LGPL is used for software libraries
 It allows other software to link with the
library
 All other restrictions from GPL are also
in LGPL

Creative Commons
Attribution
 Used to share creative works like texts,
photography, etc.
 Version 3 is used in Wikipedia.
 This license allows to share, remix, and
make commercial use of the work
 You must attribute the work in the manner
specified by the author or licensor
 First version didn’t allowed derivative works
and commercial use

Reference
 http://dunlapcodding.com/phosita/2009/0
1/what-is-the-difference-between-a-
patent-trademark-and-a-copyright.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/
 http://www.gnu.org/
 http://opensource.org/
 http://creativecommons.org/

Software license

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