|
Apache Projects
Foundation
Get Involved
Download
Sister Projects
|
|
Thank you for your interest in Apache!
|
This page answers most of the common queries that we receive about
our licence, licensing use of the software, and packaging or
redistributing it.
Please check the following list to see if any of the
descriptions match your situation. Each one is described in more detail
in the following paragraphs.
|
|
Answers
|
Here are the detailed answers for each of the questions above.
|
I'm not a lawyer. What does it all MEAN?
|
Describing legal documents in non-legalese is fraught with potential
for misinterpretation. Notwithstanding the text that follows, the
actual text of the licence itself is legally
binding and authoritative.
That said, here's what the Apache licence says in layman's terms:
It allows you to:
- freely download and use Apache software, in whole or
in part, for personal, company internal, or commercial purposes;
- use Apache software in packages or distributions that
you create.
It forbids you to:
- redistribute any piece of Apache-originated software
without proper attribution;
- use any marks owned by The Apache Software Foundation in
any way that might state or imply that the Foundation endorses
your distribution;
- use any marks owned by The Apache Software Foundation in
any way that might state or imply that you created the Apache
software in question.
It requires you to:
- include a copy of the licence in any
redistribution you may make that includes Apache software;
- provide clear attribution to The Apache Software Foundation
for any distributions that include Apache software.
It does not require you to:
- include the source of the Apache software itself, or of any
modifications you may have made to it, in any redistribution
you may assemble that includes it;
- submit changes that you make to the software back to the Apache
Software Foundation (though such feedback is encouraged).
|
|
Is 'Apache' a trademark?
|
'Apache', 'Apache Software Foundation', the multicoloured feather,
and the various Apache project names are trademarks of
The Apache Software Foundation, and are usable by others only
with permission. References to any of them must be acknowledged
with text resembling, 'Apache is a trademark of The Apache Software
Foundation, and is used with permission.' This is not necessary in
the case of all-inclusive attribution language such as, 'All
marks are the properties of their respective owners.'
|
|
What are the U.S. Export Classification Control
Numbers (ECCNs) for the various Apache software packages?
|
The ASF has not registered ECNs for any of the software that is
developed and distributed under the ASF license. If a vendor is choosing
to distribute ASF software, then it is their responsibility to get
whatever licenses, or other blessings needed for their application. See
the following from our license:
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED 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 THE APACHE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION OR
* ITS CONTRIBUTORS 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.
|
|
Can I get Apache software on a CD-ROM?
|
The Apache Software Foundation only provides its software
through online download mechanisms. However, any organisation
is free and welcome to create a CD-ROM containing our packages
and redistribute them that way for free or for fee -- subject
to the terms of our licence.
|
|
I've made improvements to the Apache
code; may I distribute the modified result?
|
Absolutely -- subject to the terms of the Apache licence,
of course. You can give your modified code away for free,
or sell it, or keep it to yourself, or whatever you like. Just
remember that the original code is still covered by the
Apache licence and you must comply with its terms. Even if you
change every single line of the Apache code you're using, the
result is still based on the Foundation's licensed code. You
may distribute the result under a different licence, but you
need to acknowledge the use of the Foundation's software. To
do otherwise would be stealing.
If you think your changes would be found useful by others,
though, we do encourage you to submit them to the
appropriate Apache project for possible inclusion.
|
|
May I call my modified code 'Apache'?
|
In a word, no. You may, however, use phrasing such
as 'based on Apache', 'powered by Apache', or 'based on Apache
technology'. You must not use the Foundation's marks
in any way that states or implies, or can be interpreted as
stating or implying, that the final product is endorsed or
created by the Apache Software Foundation. For example, it would
be acceptable to use a name like 'SuperWonderServer powered by Apache',
but never a name like 'Apache SuperWonderServer'. This is similar
to the distinction between a product named 'Microsoft Burp' and
'Burp for Microsoft Windows'.
You may similarly identify the specific Foundation project
whose code you're using, such as with 'based on Apache Xerces'
or 'powered by Apache Tomcat technology'.
If you wish to use a name including any of the Foundation's
marks, such as the word Apache, it's best to ask our permission first
|
|
Is the Apache licence compatible with the GPL
(GNU Public Licence)?
|
It is the unofficial position of The Apache Software
Foundation that the Apache licence is
compatible with the GPL. However, the Free Software Foundation
holds a different position, although we have not been able to
get them to give us categorical answers to our queries asking
for details on just what aspects they consider incompatible.
Whether to mix software covered under these two different
licences must be a determination made by
those attempting such a synthesis.
|
|
|
Another Place to Look
|
If you have questions about The Apache Software Foundation, its
projects, or its software, we recommend the following link for more
information or assistance:
If you have a question specifically about the Apache licence
or distribution of Apache software, and it has not been answered
by this page, you may send a message to <human-response@Apache.Org>
requesting clarification. Note: If you send a
question that is answered by the information on this page
your message may be IGNORED.
|
|
