Zlib License Explained

zlib license
Author:	Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler
Copyright:	Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler
Version:	1.2.11^[1]
Date:	15 April 1995
Osi Approved:	Yes
Debian Approved:	Yes
Free Software:	Yes
Gpl Compatible:	Yes
Copyleft:	No
Linking:	Yes

The zlib license is a permissive free software license which defines the terms under which the zlib software library can be distributed. It is also used by many other free software packages. The libpng library uses a similar license, libpng license, sometimes referred interchangeably as zlib/libpng license.

The zlib license has been approved by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) as a free software license,^[2] and by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) as an open source license.^[3] It is compatible with the GNU General Public License.^[2]

Terms

The license only has the following points to be accounted for:

• Software is used on 'as-is' basis. Authors are not liable for any damages arising from its use.
• The distribution of a modified version of the software is subject to the following restrictions:
  1. The authorship of the original software must not be misrepresented,
  2. Altered source versions must not be misrepresented as being the original software, and
  3. The license notice must not be removed from source distributions.

The license does not require source code to be made available if distributing binary code.

Text

The license terms are as follows:

See also

• Comparison of free and open-source software licenses
• Software using the zlib license (category)

External links

• License text on the zlib homepage

Notes and References

1. Web site: Zlib License.
2. Web site: Various Licenses and Comments about Them . 2007-06-17 . License of ZLib [...] is a free software license, and compatible with the GPL..
3. Web site: The zlib/libpng License (Zlib) . 2013-01-16.