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License

This project is dual-licensed under the terms of:

  1. GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) v3 or any later version
  2. Hippocratic License 3.0

You may choose to use, distribute, and modify this software under the terms of either license.

License Philosophy

As the author of this project, I encourage you to honor the spirit of both licenses, regardless of which one you formally adopt.

The AGPL ensures that the software remains free and open for all users, especially in networked environments. If you modify this software and provide it as a service over a network, you must make your modified source code available to users of that service.

The Hippocratic License ensures that the software is not used to violate fundamental human rights. It is grounded in internationally recognized human rights norms, including the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I hope you will use this software to build things that are ethical, empowering, and socially responsible.

Why Dual-License?

Different users have different needs:

  • If you need OSI-approved licensing for enterprise compliance, institutional requirements, or compatibility with other open source projects, use the AGPL v3.

  • If you want explicit ethical commitments built into your license terms and are comfortable with a license that is not OSI-approved, use the Hippocratic License 3.0.

Both licenses ensure the code remains open. Both require sharing modifications. They differ in whether ethical use restrictions are legally encoded.

Quick Comparison

Aspect AGPL v3 Hippocratic 3.0
OSI Approved ✅ Yes ❌ No (by design)
Copyleft ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Network use triggers sharing ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Patent grant ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Ethical use restrictions ❌ No ✅ Yes
Based on international law ❌ No ✅ UN UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR

Ethical Standards (Hippocratic License Summary)

If you choose the Hippocratic License, you agree not to use this software to:

  • Infringe upon any person's right to life or security
  • Hold any person in slavery, servitude, or forced labor
  • Torture or subject any person to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment
  • Discriminate based on sex, gender, race, religion, disability, or similar characteristics
  • Subject any person to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile
  • Interfere arbitrarily with privacy, family, or home
  • Forcibly remove indigenous peoples from their lands without consent

And you agree to:

  • Provide equal pay for equal work
  • Allow reasonable working hours and periodic holidays with pay

These standards are derived from the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international covenants.

Included License Files

Resources

Questions?

If you have questions about licensing, please open an issue or contact us.

This project is maintained by Cybermonkey Ethical Technologies (ABN 77 177 673 061)

Human Technology.