Open Supply software program is distributed underneath quite a lot of licenses every of which normally permits licensee to distribute and modify the software program, supplied that the licensee complies with a specified set of phrases and situations.A query that may due to this fact come up, is a licensee legally permitted to create modifications which mix components of two (or extra) totally different present works right into a single work, and distribute the end result?The reply is that these kinds of mixtures are usually solely legally permitted if the licensee can adjust to all of the pertinent phrases and situations of all of the licenses.- In some circumstances, one license settlement might include phrases and situations which cannot concurrently be glad with the phrases and situations of one other, thus making compliance with all of the phrases and situations not possible. Such licenses are due to this fact mentioned to be “incompatible”. It’s due to this fact not legally permissible to mix and distribute code which is underneath incompatible licenses – since you, as a licensee, will all the time be in breach of at the least one, and probably extra, of the licenses.- In different circumstances, it might be attainable to concurrently adjust to every license settlement’s phrases and situations. Such licenses are due to this fact mentioned to be “compatible”. It’s due to this fact is legally permissible (assuming there aren’t any different authorized causes to cease you) to mix and distribute code which is underneath appropriate licenses – supplied you, as a licensee, adjust to all of the pertinent obligations in all the licenses.Moreover, it’s price noting that compatibility might solely be in a single route. For instance:- It’s permissible to make use of software program code which is underneath some variants of the BSD license in a GPL licensed undertaking, after which to distribute the end result underneath GPL.- It isn’t permissible to make use of software program code which is underneath the GPL license in a BSD licensed undertaking, after which to distribute the end result underneath the BSD license.Lastly, if you’re the copyright holder of some code, it’s must be attainable so that you can place your personal code underneath whichever license you need (even when you’ve got licensed it underneath a special license earlier than – supplied that was accomplished a non-exclusive foundation) – thus permitting you much more flexibility as to which different code you may mix with. In fact, you can’t relicense different individuals’s code on this manner – however if you’re utterly caught, you do have the choice of approaching the creator and asking them whether or not they would possibly contemplate twin licensing their code.Please be aware: The creator of this text is NOT a lawyer. This text is NOT supposed as, NOR must be construed as authorized or skilled recommendation.