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Licenses

Open source is more than just a license and source code in a public place. The success of an open-source project is influenced mainly by how day-to-day matters are handled, not by the choice of license. Open source requires community, culture, shared vision, and a commitment to continuous design. That a project like Apache can succeed based on a minimal BSD-style license that does not even mention collaboration is proof that we need to look beyond the license. But the choice of a license can help set the tone for the project and define its legal boundaries. The license you choose also can determine how code from different contributors can be combined and which are the natural projects for you to collaborate with.

None of the advice in this chapter should be taken as legal advice. For the definitive meanings of the licenses described here or for help in drafting your own, please engage a lawyer.