Apache 2.0 License
The Apache License 2.0 is a permissive open-source software license maintained by the Apache Software Foundation. First released in 2004, it allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute software while providing explicit legal protections for both developers and users. As a permissive license, it imposes fewer restrictions than copyleft licenses like the GNU General Public License, enabling licensed code to be incorporated into proprietary software without requiring derivative works to remain open-source.
Key Features
The license grants broad permissions including the right to use software for any purpose, modify the source code, and distribute copies or modified versions. It requires that users include a copy of the license and provide notice of any significant changes made to the code. Importantly, the Apache 2.0 License includes an explicit patent grant, protecting users from patent claims by the licensor. This distinguishes it from earlier open-source licenses and provides clearer protection in patent disputes.
Common Use
The Apache 2.0 License is widely used across open-source projects, particularly in infrastructure software, frameworks, and libraries. Notable projects using this license include the Apache HTTP Server, Kubernetes, and various Apache Foundation projects. Its balance between permissiveness and legal clarity makes it attractive to both individual developers and organizations seeking to release software without imposing strict requirements on downstream users or derivatives.
Source Notes
- 2026-04-07: Google Gemma 4 Advanced Open Source AI Models for Efficient Edge · ▶ source
- 2026-04-08: Agentic Visual Reasoning Enhancing VLMs for Precise Object Counting an · ▶ source
- 2026-04-17: DeepMind Gemma 4 Open Efficient AI Empowering Local Device Execution · ▶ source
- 2026-04-22: Google Gemma · ▶ source
- 2026-04-29: Google DeepMind