EEC - Ask The Startup Lawyers: How can I be sure that my use of open source software will not cause problems

Nov 4, 2009

How can I be sure that my use of open source software will not cause problems?

Before incorporating any open source tools, libraries or other software into a product that you intend to distribute as proprietary, you should review carefully the terms of the applicable license. Be very careful about "copyleft" reciprocal provisions that could require you to make your source code available to others. Software under the MIT license, the Apache license and similar types of are less worrisome, but also come with certain notice and attribution obligations that you should understand and comply with. If you do use open source code, then you should maintain accurate and up-to-date records of open source software used, and check compliance with the relevant licensing terms. You should also discuss your open source choices with counsel, advisory board members and other professional advisors.

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Nov 4, 2009

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