开源许可证对比研究

A Comparative Study on Open Source Licenses

摘要: 开源许可证是开源软件的灵魂，但是鲜有开源参与者和使用者能够充分阅读开源许可证的原文全文，理解开源许可证的要求约束，使得开源活动中引入了各种潜藏的风险。通过介绍开源许可证的相关定义，分析开源许可证的基本性质，对比分析MIT、BSD、Apache和GPL等几种主要的英文开源许可证和以中文为书写语言的木兰许可证的许可条款、演变历史，详细阐述了这几种开源许可证的发展轨迹、关键条款、授权范围和许可条件，对比分析了开源许可证之间以及开源许可证与商业许可证的差异，明确了各开源许可证的主要特点和在开源活动中的基本遵循，以帮助开源软件的参与者和使用者充分理解开源精神，提高开源活动中的行为符合性，促进开源软件在中国的发展。

Abstract: Open source license is the soul of open source software, but few open source participants and users can fully read the full text of the open source license and understand the requirements and constraints of the open source license, which leads to various potential risks in the open source activities. This paper introduces the definition of open source license, analyzes its basic nature, compares and analyzes the license terms and evolution history of several main English open source licenses such as MIT, BSD, Apache and GPL, and Mulan license written in Chinese. It also elaborates the development track, key terms, authorization scope and license conditions of these open source licenses, and makes clear that the main characteristics of each open source license and the basic compliance in the open source activities, makes comparison among open source licenses and between open source license and business license, which can help the participants and users of open source software fully understand the open source spirit, improve the behavior compliance in the open source activities, and promote the development of open source software in China.