zlib License

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zlib license
Author Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler
Version 1.2.2
Copyright Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler
Published 2004-10-03
DFSG compatible Yes
Free software Yes
OSI approved Yes
GPL compatible Yes
Copyleft No
Linking from code with a different license Yes

The zlib License is a permissive free software license which defines the terms under which the zlib and libpng software libraries can be distributed. It is also used by other free software packages, e.g., on SourceForge.[1]

The zlib License has been approved by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) as a free software licence,[2] and by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) as an open source license. It is compatible with the GNU General Public License.

The license only has the following points to be accounted for:

  • Software is used on 'as-is' basis. Authors are not liable for any damages arising from its use.
  • The distribution of a modified version of the software is subject to the following restrictions:
    1. You must not claim that you wrote the original software,
    2. Altered source versions must not be misrepresented as being the original software, and
    3. The license notice must not be removed from source distributions.

Note that the license does not require source code to be made available.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Projects on SourceForge using this license..
  2. ^ Various Licenses and Comments about Them. Retrieved on 2007-06-17. “License of ZLib [...] is a free software license, and compatible with the GPL.”