This document discusses open source software licensing options. It notes that open source licenses allow software to be freely used, modified, and shared. It describes some common open source licenses like the MIT, BSD 2.0, Apache 2.0, LGPL and GPL licenses. It provides examples of which licenses would be good choices depending on a creator's priorities around widespread adoption, commercial use, requiring modifications to use the same license, and maintaining patent rights. The document also discusses "ethical open source" licenses that aim to limit unethical uses and advocate for human rights. Proprietary licenses are mentioned as protecting the creator's rights by restricting usage and commercial exploitation.

1. Open Source
Software Licensing

2. "Licenses that comply with the Open
Source Definition—in brief, they allow
software to be freely used, modified,
and shared.”
- Open Source Initiative

3. Which License
Should I
Choose?

4. Competing Priorities
Lowest adoption v. controlled use
Permissive
Copyleft
Proprietary/Custom-Made
Widespread adoption v. lack of restrictions
Lower adoption v. commercial restrictions

5. Challenge:
Avoiding licensing mismatch

6. Permissive Copyleft
MIT
BSD 2.0
Apache 2.0 LGPL
MPL
AGPL
GPL 3.0
Perl

7. Example Situations
Creator wants widespread adoption, allowances for
commercial use, but requires modified versions to be
under a similar license: LGPL
Creator cares about derivative works and wants
them to be subject to the same license (to avoid
forking): GPL 3.0
Creator wishes to maintain patent rights to the
original software and access to any modifications of
it: Apache 2.0
Creator focused purely on the software's virality: MIT
or BSD 2.0

8. Ethical Open Source
Limiting the impact or unethical use of
open source software

9. Licenses
Hippocratic License
999.ICU
Do No Harm License
inno3
Atmosphere Licenses
Corporate Accountability Lab Ethical IP Licensing
The Non-Violent Public License
To advocate for human rights | To prohibit the software's use in assisting with human
rights violations | To ensure basic protections against violence, coercion and
discrimination

10. Proprietary Licenses
Protects the creator's
rights and interests
by outlining the
intended uses of the
software
Restricts the usage of
the software and
prevents others from
commercially exploiting
it
Includes specific provisions
that address the particular
needs of the creator/owner
that are not covered by
open source licenses

11. Interested in learning more?
Alex Davis
alexander@davislaw.io