# Sample: Source Code License Agreement **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419 "2008-07-22T21:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419/1 "2008-07-22T21:37:09Z")
Can someone point me to a sample of a license agreement for source code online? I am doing some software work for a friend - basically for free. I am fine with him having the source code, changing the source code, profiting from any results; but I want to own the original code and be allowed to use it as I see fit. IOW, giving it to him does not yield my rights to it. If I have to, I suppose I will get a lawyer, but I hate to spend that kind of money on work that I will not be paid for, especially since I am on medical leave and finances are tight. So I am hoping that I can find an example online that says pretty much what I want it to. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419/2 "2008-07-22T23:12:51Z")
A Creative Commons license may do something like what you’re after: [License compatibility wizard from CC Taiwan - Creative CommonsCreative Commons](http://creativecommons.org/license/) Descriptions of the kinds of licenses offered are here: [http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses](http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419/3 "2008-07-22T23:22:35Z")
[QUOTE=BrandonR] A Creative Commons license may do something like what you’re after: [Licenses List - Creative Commons](http://creativecommons.org/license/) Descriptions of the kinds of licenses offered are here: [Sharing Openly, Sharing Globally - Creative Commons](http://creativecommons.org/about/licenses) [/QUOTE] Thanks **BrandonR** , that does look promising. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419/4 "2008-07-22T23:27:51Z")
I think that you’re a bit confused as to what a software license is for. As the author of the code, you are the copyright holder\*. As the copyright holder, you have the right to do pretty much anything you like with the code. What a software license does is grant other people rights to do things with the code. So the real question to ask here is, what do you want to allow your friend to be able to do with the code? If you want to put basically no limits on him, I’d suggest the 3-clause BSD license: > [@](#): > > - Copyright (c) \, \ > - All rights reserved. > - > - Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without > - modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: > - > > ``` > * Redistributions of 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 <organization> nor the > > ``` > > - > > ``` > names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products > > ``` > > - > > ``` > derived from this software without specific prior written permission. > > ``` > > - > - THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY \ ‘‘AS IS’’ AND ANY > - EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED > - WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE > - DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL \ BE LIABLE FOR ANY > - DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES > - (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; > - LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND > - ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT > - (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS > - SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. Basically, your friend can distribute the code(in source or binary form) to anyone he likes. If your friend wishes, he may give the recipients the right to further distribute the code(and they can do the same). If your friend makes modifications, he can prevent people from distributing the code themselves. You also disclaim any warranties – in other words, if the code fails, you can’t be sued. - There are cases where the author of something is not the copyright holder – like if you’re an employee and wrote the work as part of your job. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419/5 "2008-07-23T05:01:22Z")
Use the BSD license unless you know why you can’t or don’t want to. Creative Commons licenses are rarely applied to code in the real world, but the BSD license has been in active use since the 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![ushimitsudoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@ushimitsudoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ushimitsudoki)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sample-source-code-license-agreement/457419/6 "2008-07-23T06:07:17Z")
Here are the commonly recognized Open Source Licenses: > **[Licenses](https://opensource.org/licenses/)** > > OSI Approved Licenses Open source licenses are licenses that comply with the Open Source Definition – in brief, they allow software to be freely used, modified, and shared. To be approved by the Op… I would recommend considering GPL v3: > **[GNU General Public License version 3](https://opensource.org/license/gpl-3-0/)** > > Preamble The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works. The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed to take away your fr… Creative Commons are not really for software licenses, as you can read straight from the CC site: [http://wiki.creativecommons.org/FAQ#Can\_I\_use\_a\_Creative\_Commons\_license\_for\_software.3F](http://wiki.creativecommons.org/FAQ#Can_I_use_a_Creative_Commons_license_for_software.3F)