What license should I use for GitHub?

On GitHub the three main types of software licenses are: The Apache License, which is similar to the MIT License, but also explicitly grants patent rights to users. The GPL License, which is older, more limiting, and less popular than the other two.

Is it illegal to use code from GitHub?

Public projects are covered by GitHub’s Terms of Service, which allows others to view and fork your project, but your work otherwise comes with no permissions. For example, someone cannot legally use any part of your GitHub project in their code, even if it’s public, unless you explicitly give them the right to do so.

What happens if a GitHub repo doesn’t have a license?

Even in the absence of a license file, you may grant some rights in cases where you publish your source code to a site that requires accepting terms of service. Others may not need your permission if limitations and exceptions to copyright apply to their particular situation.

What is MIT license GitHub?

A short and simple permissive license with conditions only requiring preservation of copyright and license notices. Licensed works, modifications, and larger works may be distributed under different terms and without source code.

How do I apply for a MIT license?

How do I use the MIT License? When you release source code, put a copy of the MIT License text at the top of each source file as a comment. When you release a software package, include a copy of the MIT License in the root directory of the package. Name the file ‘COPYING’ or ‘LICENSE’.

Can anyone use MIT license?

Can anyone use the MIT license? Yes, any developer or user can include the MIT license in their project, granted they know that it means all rights associated with their work will be freely available for future modification.

Can I use unlicensed code?

1 Answer. Code without an explicit license is protected by copyright and is by default All Rights Reserved. The person or people who wrote the code are protected as such. Any time you’re using software you didn’t write, licensing should be considered and abided.

Can I use code without license?

You’re under no obligation to choose a license. However, without a license, the default copyright laws apply, meaning that you retain all rights to your source code and no one may reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from your work.

Can I copy code from MIT License?

The MIT license gives users express permission to reuse code for any purpose, sometimes even if code is part of proprietary software. As long as users include the original copy of the MIT license in their distribution, they can make any changes or modifications to the code to suit their own needs.

What is GitHub license?

Public repositories on GitHub are often used to share open source software. For your repository to truly be open source, you’ll need to license it so that others are free to use, change, and distribute the software.

Do I need an open source license for my GitHub repository?

So if you really want to publish your code (which is the point of a public GitHub repo), then I strongly suggest you do put an actual Open Source license on your code so that others have an explicit license with the license terms granting us permissions to use your code. Why a license? You might want to specify term of use.

Should I put my code in a public repository?

Do not put your code into a repository that can be viewed by anyone, keep it private. While a license tells people what they can and cannot do with your code it is only as good as the people that bother to read and follow the license. You may never know that someone has violated the license.

Should I Make my GitHub reop public?

So, your code is your code, even when it is on GitHub. If you make your GitHub reop public, you grant some permissions to it. If you put an Open Source license on it, you make your intended permissions clear and effective. Please note: I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice.

Can I use a public source code in another program?

In order to use it in another program — which would be a derivative work — you would need that right to be granted to you. That is the essence of open source licenses like the GPL, etc. Basically unless you are specifically granted the right to do so you cannot, even if the repository is public. Depends on the license.