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lammps/doc/src/Intro_opensource.rst
2021-05-27 16:09:28 -04:00

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LAMMPS open-source license
--------------------------
LAMMPS is a freely-available open-source code, distributed under the
terms of the `GNU Public License Version 2 <gpl_>`_, which means you can
use or modify the code however you wish for your own purposes, but have
to adhere to certain rules when redistributing it or software derived
from it or that includes parts of it.
LAMMPS comes with no warranty of any kind. As each source file states
in its header, it is a copyrighted code that is distributed free-of-
charge, under the terms of the `GNU Public License Version 2 <gpl_>`_
(GPLv2). This is often referred to as open-source distribution - see
`www.gnu.org <gnuorg_>`_ or `www.opensource.org <opensource_>`_. The
legal text of the GPL is in the LICENSE file included in the LAMMPS
distribution.
.. _gpl: https://github.com/lammps/lammps/blob/master/LICENSE
.. _gnuorg: http://www.gnu.org
.. _opensource: http://www.opensource.org
Here is a summary of what the GPL means for LAMMPS users:
(1) Anyone is free to use, modify, or extend LAMMPS in any way they
choose, including for commercial purposes.
(2) If you **distribute** a modified version of LAMMPS, it must remain
open-source, meaning you distribute **all** of it under the terms of
the GPL. You should clearly annotate such a code as a derivative version
of LAMMPS.
(3) If you release any code that includes or uses LAMMPS source code,
then it must also be open-sourced, meaning you distribute it under
the terms of the GPL.
(4) If you give LAMMPS files to someone else, the GPL LICENSE file and
source file headers (including the copyright and GPL notices) should
remain part of the code.