Patent-Grant on Your License

Apache License 2.0

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Apache 2.0 is a permissive license similar in spirit to MIT but with two key additions: an explicit patent grant from contributors, and an explicit requirement to document significant changes. It does not grant trademark rights.

The patent grant makes Apache 2.0 preferable for projects with many contributors or corporate sponsors — it reduces the risk of patent lawsuits against downstream users. Apache 2.0 is not compatible with GPL-2.0, but is compatible with GPL-3.0 and later.

Mozilla Public License 2.0

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

MPL-2.0 applies copyleft at the file level: if you modify an MPL-2.0 file, that file stays under MPL-2.0, but new files can be under a different license. This makes it easier to combine MPL-2.0 code with proprietary code than GPL or LGPL.

It includes an explicit patent grant and retaliation clause. It is compatible with both GPL and Apache-style licenses, which makes MPL-2.0 a common choice for projects that want some copyleft protection without scaring off commercial users.