Mozilla Public License

Mozilla Public License: Open Source Software License

The Mozilla Public License is an open source software license allowing modification and distribution of source code. It requires modified versions to use a different name and their source code to remain open.

What is Mozilla Public License?

The Mozilla Public License (MPL) is an open source and free software license developed and maintained by the Mozilla Foundation. It is a copyleft license that is easy to comply with compared to stronger reciprocal licenses like the GNU GPL.

The key features of the MPL are:

• It allows users to modify and distribute the source code, as long as the modified versions use a different name.
• It requires modified source code to remain open and retain the MPL license terms.
• It allows developers to combine MPL projects with proprietary code to build hybrid/proprietary software.
• The reciprocal copyleft applies only to files that are unchanged and covered by MPL. Extension code files are not subject.
• It doesn't place restrictions on distributing binaries unlike strong copyleft licenses.
• Patent clauses are included to protect contributors and users from patent litigation.

Overall, the MPL offers a middle ground between permissive licenses like BSD/MIT and reciprocal ones like GPL. It provides flexibility while preserving the core value of openness.

Mozilla Public License Features

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