Forráskódlicence

Forráskódlicence, often translated as source code license, is a legal document that governs the use, distribution, and modification of computer software. It outlines the rights and obligations of both the software creator and the user. These licenses are crucial for defining how software can be shared and built upon, preventing unauthorized usage and ensuring clarity for developers and end-users alike.

There are broadly two categories of software licenses: proprietary and free and open-source. Proprietary licenses, also known as closed-source licenses, typically restrict the user's ability to view, modify, or redistribute the source code. Users are granted permission to use the software under specific terms, often with limitations on copying or reverse engineering.

Free and open-source software (FOSS) licenses, on the other hand, grant users significant freedoms. The Free Software Foundation defines "free" in this context as freedom, not necessarily price. These licenses generally allow users to view, modify, and distribute the source code, often with certain conditions. Conditions might include requiring derivative works to be licensed under the same terms (copyleft licenses like the GNU General Public License) or allowing greater flexibility in relicensing (permissive licenses like the MIT License or BSD License). The choice of license significantly impacts how a piece of software can be integrated into other projects and how it can be commercially exploited. Understanding the terms of a source code license is essential for any developer or organization using or distributing software.