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Open-Source License Scenarios
publish date: 2026/06/13 06:39:45.175678 UTC
volume_muteA company is deciding which open-source license to use for its new library. Match each company goal to the most appropriate license.
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Company Goal
We want to allow unrestricted use in both open-source and proprietary systems with only attribution required; we impose no restrictions on derivative works
We want to ensure that all derivative works, including products that use our library, must also be open source
We want others to be able to use our library in proprietary products; we only require that if they modify our library itself, they publish those changes
License
GNU GPL
GNU LGPL
BSD / MIT License
Correct Answer
(1) We want to ensure that all derivative works, including products that use our library, must also be open source,GNU GPL
(2) We want others to be able to use our library in proprietary products; we only require that if they modify our library itself, they publish those changes,GNU LGPL
(3) We want to allow unrestricted use in both open-source and proprietary systems with only attribution required; we impose no restrictions on derivative works,BSD / MIT License
Explanation
GPL - full reciprocal (copyleft): any product using GPL code must also be open source. LGPL - partial reciprocal: users can link without open-sourcing their own code, but changes to the LGPL component itself must be published. BSD/MIT - non-reciprocal: can be used in proprietary systems, sold, and modified freely - only attribution to the original creator is required.
Reference
Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 10th edition