Open Source Licensing Demystified
Understanding open source licenses and how they apply to OpenEduCat. Learn about LGPL-3, GPL, and commercial licensing options for education software.
What is Open Source?
Open source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance. OpenEduCat Free Edition is released under the LGPL-3.0 license, which allows you to use, modify, and distribute the software freely.
LGPL-3.0 License Explained
The GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) is a permissive open source license. It allows you to use the software in proprietary applications while requiring that modifications to the LGPL-covered code remain open source. This means you can build custom modules without being required to open-source your proprietary code.
Free vs Enterprise
OpenEduCat Free Edition is free and open source under LGPL. OpenEduCat Enterprise Edition includes additional features, enterprise support, and is available under a commercial license. Enterprise customers receive dedicated support, SLA guarantees, and access to enterprise-only modules.
Your Rights Under LGPL
Under LGPL, you can: use the software for any purpose including commercial; modify the source code; distribute copies; and use it in proprietary applications. You must: include copyright notices; release modifications to LGPL files under LGPL; and provide access to modified LGPL source code.
When to Choose Enterprise
Consider Enterprise Edition when you need: enterprise support and SLAs; enterprise-only features like advanced reporting; guaranteed updates and security patches; implementation assistance; or compliance with institutional procurement requirements.
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