Licenses

eZ publish; one software with two license choices.

We believe in freedom of choice. Hence eZ publish has a dual license model that gives you greater opportunities. You can choose between the eZ publish Professional License and the GPL (Free Open Source license you get with the free download).

Under both the GPL and the eZ publish Professional License you are free to customize, modify and distribute all parts of eZ publish (templates, core, libraries, extensions etc.).

Which license you need does not depend on what changes you make, but to what rights you want to the changes and solutions you make. If you choose GPL, then all your changes and solutions will also have to be released under GPL. With the eZ publish Professional License you get the right to protect your work and also get the right to license, sell and re-brand the software.

You will get extended rights and business opportunities with a professional license compared to the GPL.

The basic principles of the GPL license

The GPL license is based on the principle that if you use GPL licensed software in your software or solution then this software or solution also has to have a GPL license.

The added value of the eZ publish Professional License

You get extended rights with the eZ publish Professional License:

• You get the security with a commercial license from a commercial vendor.
• You get to protect your work and not have to share it as free open source software.
• You get the extended business opportunities as you can make and distribute extensions, solutions, templates or software based on parts or all of eZ publish as non GPL software.

For eZ publish this means:

• Package and sell software and solutions
• License and close source
• Rebrand

Note! If you are unsure of what license you need follow this simple rule of thumb:

If you're Open Source, eZ publish is Open Source. If you're Commercial, eZ publish is Commercial

FAQ:

What changes or modifications can I make to eZ publish?

eZ publish comes with the source code available and you are free to make changes to all parts of eZ publish like the kernel, libraries, templates and extensions. You can choose between using eZ publish under the GPL or the eZ publish Professional License, depending on the right you want to the work you make.

What parts of eZ publish can I distribute and use?

You are free to distribute and use all parts of eZ publish.

When do I need a professional license?

It is when you distribute eZ publish or derivative work of eZ publish you will have to make a choice of licensing. If you distribute it under GPL (free open source) you do not need to pay for a license. If you distribute eZ publish or derivatives thereof in a non-GPL way, you will need a professional license. You will also need an eZ publish Professional License if you do not want to share your work or if you want to license and sell it.

What is defined as a distribution?

You distribute the software when you share the software with another person or organization or when you install the software on a server for another person or organization (it does not matter if this server is at your location or at another location). Per definition this also involves internal distribution in an organization.

Is using eZ publish on my own website defined as distribution?

No, as long as you just use it for your own website and do not distribute anything with anybody you will not distribute the software and you are free to use it under GPL for free.

What is defined as derivative work of eZ publish?

All changes or modifications of eZ publish, that is not content based are defined as derivative work. This includes kernel changes, templates, extensions and other modifications. For example, if you make a template for eZ publish it will be a derivative work. If you make a new module or datatype to eZ publish it will be a derivative work.

Can I download the free version to test eZ publish?

Yes, you are free to download eZ publish for free for testing. You will get the full software and the rights to change and modify it. It is when you eventually distribute it in a non-GPL way that you will need a professional license.

I am setting up solutions for my customers with eZ publish. When do I need a professional license?

Following the GPL license you are free to sell consulting or hosting services for eZ publish. What license you need depends on how you distribute the solutions you set up. If you distribute the solutions under the GPL licence you do not need to buy any license. But if you sell commercial solutions of eZ publish you need a Professional license. You then also get the option to license the solution, (for example per user), rebrand the solution and protect the work you have made.