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- The Open Source Definition
-
- (Version 1.0)
-
- 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:
-
- 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. Example Licenses.
-
- The GNU GPL, BSD, X Consortium, and Artistic licenses are examples of
- licenses that we consider conformant to the Open Source Definition. So are
- the MPL and QPL.
-