5 best alternatives to GPLv2 as of 2019 - Slant

MIT License

Top Pro

Short and simple

The MIT license is one of the shortest licenses of all the major recognized open source licenses. The full text is just 3 paragraphs long. See More

Top Con

Does not protect long-term user freedom

The MIT/Expat license doesn't protect against open-source code being taken (without payment) and used in proprietary software. This is harmful to user freedom because it lets future development be taken out of the public domain and instead moved into non-free programs. In addition, it doesn't protect against software patents being used to attack user freedom. Unlike the Apache 2.0 and GPLv3 licenses, the MIT/Expat was written before software patents became a problem and doesn't include a patent release. See More

Top Pro

Prevents lock-in

The license basically allows anyone to do whatever they want with the code as long as the original copyright and license notice is included along with the copy of the code. The code can be used for commercially, privately, it can be modified and it can be distributed. See More

Top Con

Does not prevent others from taking and selling your software

The MIT license is permissive enough that anyone can take your code, rebrand it and sell it. See More

Top Pro

Explicitly allows sublicensing

The license specifically mentions that the code can be used in other software that might have a less permissive license. See More

Top Con

Ambiguous name

The MIT License is sometimes known as the Expat License or the X11 License because it has been used with different names in different places. See More

Top Pro

Protects the author

The author of the software avoids any risk for how the software may be used by others. See More

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26 4

Simplified BSD License

Top Pro

Can be used with proprietary software

BSD licensed software can be used with proprietary software. See More

Top Con

Nothing prevents someone else from making money off of your software

The 2-clause BSD license is permissive enough that anyone can take your code, rebrand it and sell it. See More

Top Pro

Short and simple text

This license has one requirement with 2 clauses, both of whcih are related to the distribution of the license itself. See More

Top Pro

Protects the author

The author of the software avoids any risk for how the software may be used by others. See More

Top Pro

Prevents lock-in

The license basically allows anyone to do whatever they want with the code as long as the original copyright and license notice is included along with the copy of the code. The code can be used for commercially, it can be modified and it can be distributed. See More

11 3

The Unlicense

Top Con

Hasn't been reviewed by OSI

The OSI (Open Source Initiative) is an organization that promotes open source software and they commonly review open source licenses. However, they have decided not to review Unlicensed because it has not been written by legal professionals. See More

Top Pro

Removes any possible licensing issues

Everything under the Unlicense is part of the public domain, which means that anything can be done with it. See More

Top Con

Gives no control of how the code is used

Putting the code in the public domain leaves it open to abuse. See More

Top Pro

Protects the author

The author of the software avoids any risk for how the software may be used by others. See More

Top Pro

Unlicensed code is easy to find

When using public code hosts such as GitHub and BitBucket it is suggested to use the filename UNLICENSE instead of the more traditional LICENSE or COPYRIGHT to store the license so it's easier to find unlicensed code. Additionally, the first line of the license is worded in a unique way specifically to allow searching for it with search engines. See More

Top Pro

Short and simple

The Unlicense is just 3 paragraphs long. See More

5 3

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