Simple Guide to Open Source Licenses [Video]

When you’re developing a project on GitHub, choosing the right open-source license is crucial. With just a few clicks, you can add a license to your repository, whether it’s the permissive MIT license, the Apache license, or something else. But what are the different categories of open-source licenses, and why should you care about them? Let’s dive into the details.

Why Should You Use an Open-Source License?

1. Legal Protection: Without a license, others can copy, modify, and even sell your software without giving you credit. Open-source licenses help protect your intellectual property.
2. Community and Contributions: By choosing a license, you clarify how others can contribute to your project, leading to more community involvement. For example, permissive licenses like MIT make it easy for developers to adopt and contribute back to your project.
3. Avoid Liability: Most open-source licenses, including MIT and Apache, include clauses that free the original creator from liability in case something goes wrong with the software.
4. Encourage Innovation:Licenses like …