Compatible licenses
From GPLv3 Wiki
This page centrally documents what licenses will be compatible with the GPLv3, with an emphasis of noting what compatibilities changed since version 2, this list will influence the GNU project's license list.
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GPLv2-compatible licenses
These licenses were compatible with the GNU GPL version 2.
- Berkeley Database License (aka the Sleepycat Software Product License)
- Boost Software License
- CeCILL version 2
- Clarified Artistic License
- Cryptix General License
- EU DataGrid Software License
- Eiffel Forum License, version 2
- Expat License
- Intel Open Source License (as published by OSI)
- License of Guile
- License of Netscape Javascript
- License of Perl
- License of Python 1.6a2 and earlier versions
- License of Python 2.0.1, 2.1.1, and newer versions
- License of Vim, version 6.1 or later
- License of ZLib
- License of the iMatix Standard Function Library
- License of the run-time units of the GNU Ada compiler
- Modified BSD license
- OpenLDAP License, version 2.7
- Public Domain
- Standard ML of New Jersey Copyright License
- The license of Ruby
- W3C Software Notice and License
- X11 License
- Zope Public License, version 2.0
- eCos license, version 2.0
GPLv2-incompatible licenses
These licenses were incompatible with the GNU GPL version 2.
- Academic Free License, version 1.1.
- Academic Free License, version 2.1.
- Affero General Public License, version 1.0
- Apache License, version 1.0
- Apache License, version 1.1
- Apache Software License, version 2.0
- Apple Public Source License, version 2
- Common Development and Distribution License
- Common Public License, version 1.0
- Eclipse Public License, version 1.0
- IBM Public License, version 1.0
- Interbase Public License, version 1.0
- Jabber Open Source License, version 1.0
- LaTeX Project Public License 1.2
- LaTeX Project Public License 1.3a
- License of Python 1.6b1 and later versions, through 2.0 and 2.1
- License of xinetd
- Lucent Public License version 1.02 (Plan 9 license)
- Mozilla Public License
- Netizen Open Source License, version 1.0
- Netscape Public License
- Nokia Open Source License
- Old OpenLDAP License, version 2.3
- Open Software License, version 1.0
- OpenSSL license
- Original BSD license
- PHP License, version 3.0
- Phorum License, version 2.0
- Q Public License, version 1.0
- Sun Industry Standards Source License 1.0
- Sun Public License
- The Condor Public License
- XFree86 1.1 License
- Zend License, version 2.0
- Zope Public License, version 1
GPLv3-compatible licenses
These licenses will be newly compatible with the GNU GPL version 3.
- Affero General Public License, version 1.0
- Apache License, version 1.0
- Apache License, version 1.1
- Apache Software License, version 2.0
- GNU General Public License, version 2.0
- PHP license, version 3.01
These licenses will still be compatible with the GNU GPL version 3.
- See the list above.
GPLv3-incompatible licenses
These licenses are still incompatible:
As stated by Mike Milinkovich (Executive Director of the Eclipse Foundation) by email:
It is our view that unfortunately there are several restrictions in GPLv3 that prevent the EPL in its current form from being included in a GPLv3 project. One example issue is that the EPL states that it is to be interpreted under the laws of New York, which AFAICT is not permitted under the GPLv3.
In other words, in its current form we do not believe that the EPL and GPLv3 will be compatible. Believe me, we're as disappointed as anyone, as we had high hopes when the process first started.
On the question whether it would be ever possible to allow a derived product to be licensed under a single license (for instance the GPL):
I believe that the EPL allows re-distribution of EPL code with other licenses, but the EPL does not allow code contributed under it to be re-licensed under another license.
These are licenses newly incompatible with the GPL version 3:
- None.
Common reasons for incompatibility
When checking licences for compatibilty, here are some specific issues to look for that would make a licence incompatible with GPLv3 (as of draft 2).
- Requirements about attorney fees
- Jurisdiction requirements (disputes must be settled in a certain country or in accordance with the laws of a certain country)
Licences which are incompatible with GPLv3 (as of draft 2) for the above reasons include the MPL, CDDL, CPL, EPL, academic free license, open software license.