Open Source License
An open source license is a legal agreement that grants users the right to use, modify, and distribute software source code under specified terms, while protecting the original author's rights. It defines permissions, restrictions, and obligations for redistribution, ensuring compliance with open source principles like transparency and collaboration. Common examples include the MIT License, GNU GPL, and Apache License.
Developers should learn about open source licenses to ensure legal compliance when using, contributing to, or distributing open source software, avoiding copyright infringement and licensing conflicts. This is crucial for projects that integrate third-party libraries, release software publicly, or collaborate in open source communities, as it impacts code reuse, attribution, and commercial use.