Apache License
Overview
The Apache License is a permissive free software license written by the Apache Software Foundation (ASF). It allows users to use the software for any purpose, to distribute it, to modify it, and to distribute modified versions of the software under the terms of the license, without concern for royalties. The ASF and its projects release their software products under the Apache License.
History
The Apache License is a product of the Apache Software Foundation, which was established in June 1999. The foundation was created to provide organizational, legal, and financial support for a broad range of open source software projects. The Apache License was first written for the Apache HTTP Server, but it has been applied to many other software projects, including the Apache web server and the Apache Hadoop big data platform.
The first version of the Apache License, Version 1.0, was announced in 1995. The second version, Apache License 2.0, was approved by the ASF in January 2004. The current version, Apache License 2.0, is compatible with the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means that software under the GPL can be combined with software under the Apache License into one larger program.
Terms and Conditions
The Apache License 2.0 includes several terms and conditions that users must adhere to. These include:
- Redistributions of the source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions, and the following disclaimer. - Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions, and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. - Neither the name of the Apache Software Foundation nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
Compatibility with Other Licenses
The Apache License 2.0 is a permissive license, which means it allows the software to be freely used, modified, and shared. It is compatible with many other licenses, including the GNU General Public License (GPL), the MIT License, and the BSD License. This means that software licensed under these licenses can be combined with software licensed under the Apache License into one larger program.
Criticisms and Controversies
While the Apache License is widely used and respected, it has also been the subject of some criticism and controversy. Some critics argue that the license is too permissive, allowing for the possibility of proprietary derivatives. Others argue that it is too complex and difficult for non-lawyers to understand.
See Also
Open Source Initiative Free Software Foundation GNU General Public License MIT License BSD License