Public (Open Source) Project
Let's find the perfect license for your project
What's your primary goal?
Share Freely
I want maximum adoption. Anyone can use my code, including in commercial products.
Keep Derivatives Open
I want improvements shared back. Derivatives must use the same license (copyleft).
Protect My Business
I want to prevent cloud services from profiting without giving me anything back.
What should stay open?
Just modified files
Weak copyleft - File level
Can mix with proprietary code
Entire derivative project
Strong copyleft - Project level
Like Linux kernel
Including cloud services
Network copyleft - Strongest
Even SaaS must share code
It's a library
Library copyleft
Can link from proprietary apps
What matters more to you?
Stay True Open Source
OSI-approved license
Force code sharing (but cloud can still compete)
Maximum Business Control
NOT OSI-approved
Prevent cloud services entirely
Dual-licensing strategy
Important: Source Available ≠ Open Source
The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has specific requirements for a license to be considered "open source." Source-available licenses (like SSPL, BSL, and Elastic License) don't meet these requirements because they restrict certain uses (typically cloud services). While the source code is visible, these are not technically open source licenses.