License generator
Pick an open source license, enter the year and the copyright holder, and copy the text into a file named LICENSE in your project. Apache 2.0 is the complete official text plus the short notice for source files.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Choose a license.
- Enter the year and your name or organization.
- Copy the text into a file named LICENSE at the top of your project. If you use Apache 2.0, copy the notice into the header of your source files.
How it works
MIT, BSD and ISC texts have the copyright line at the top, where the tool puts the year and name. The Apache License 2.0 has no place for them in the license text, so the full text is output as published and the filled-in notice from its appendix is shown separately.
Tips
- Mention the license in your package metadata too (for example the
license field in package.json, using the SPDX name such as MIT or Apache-2.0).
- Keep the license text when you copy code from other projects.
- The license applies to the code you hold the rights to; it cannot relicense other people’s work.
Frequently asked questions
Which license should I choose?
MIT, ISC and the BSD licenses are short and permissive. Apache 2.0 is also permissive but adds an explicit patent grant and requires stating changes. If you need the strongest sharing requirements, look at the GPL family, which this tool does not cover.
What is the difference between BSD 2-Clause and 3-Clause?
The 3-Clause version adds a third condition that the name of the copyright holder or contributors may not be used to endorse products made from the software without permission.
What is the year?
It is usually the year of first publication, or a range such as 2022-2026 if you keep working on the project. The field accepts any text, so you can type a range.
Is this legal advice?
No. The texts are the standard wording of each license, but picking one is a decision about your own rights, so ask a lawyer if the stakes are high.
Are the texts changed in any way?
Only the year and the holder are filled in. The wording follows the standard text of each license; Apache 2.0 is the complete official text with the copyright line left in the appendix as published.