git: 6bd5860091 - main - Move all the software license stuff to a central location.
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Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:14:12 UTC
The branch main has been updated by imp:
URL: https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/doc/commit/?id=6bd5860091a3eb263d7d907bcca474b255100ea3
commit 6bd5860091a3eb263d7d907bcca474b255100ea3
Author: Warner Losh <imp@FreeBSD.org>
AuthorDate: 2026-06-26 17:12:02 +0000
Commit: Warner Losh <imp@FreeBSD.org>
CommitDate: 2026-06-26 17:12:08 +0000
Move all the software license stuff to a central location.
This leaves an appropriatesummary on the website pages, committer's
guide and contributing pages, and augments license-guide with
information that was on those pages (though the license exceptions
moves to software-license).
It's mostly word motion with light edits.
Sponsored by: Netflix
Reviewed by: ziaee, adrian
Approved by: core (24 hour rule)
Differential Revision: https://reviews.freebsd.org/D57340
---
.../en/articles/committers-guide/_index.adoc | 32 ++---
.../content/en/articles/contributing/_index.adoc | 2 +-
.../content/en/articles/license-guide/_index.adoc | 50 +++++--
shared/bn-bd/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/da/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/de/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/el/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/en/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/es/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/fr/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/hu/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/id/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/it/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/ja/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/ko/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/mn/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/nl/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/pl/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/pt-br/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/ru/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/tr/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/zh-cn/urls.adoc | 1 +
shared/zh-tw/urls.adoc | 1 +
website/content/en/internal/members.adoc | 2 +-
website/content/en/internal/policies.adoc | 2 +-
website/content/en/internal/software-license.adoc | 145 +--------------------
26 files changed, 84 insertions(+), 169 deletions(-)
diff --git a/documentation/content/en/articles/committers-guide/_index.adoc b/documentation/content/en/articles/committers-guide/_index.adoc
index 503fc7448c..45350e0ba2 100644
--- a/documentation/content/en/articles/committers-guide/_index.adoc
+++ b/documentation/content/en/articles/committers-guide/_index.adoc
@@ -2803,12 +2803,13 @@ Relnotes: yes
[[pref-license]]
== Preferred License for New Files
-The FreeBSD Project's full license policy can be found at link:https://www.FreeBSD.org/internal/software-license/[https://www.FreeBSD.org/internal/software-license].
+The FreeBSD Project's full license policy is documented in the extref:{license-guide}[FreeBSD License Policies] article.
The rest of this section is intended to help you get started.
As a rule, when in doubt, ask.
It is much easier to give advice than to fix the source tree.
-The FreeBSD Project suggests and uses this text as the preferred license scheme:
+SPDX-only license marking is strongly preferred.
+The FreeBSD Project uses this text as the preferred license:
[.programlisting]
....
@@ -2816,18 +2817,16 @@ The FreeBSD Project suggests and uses this text as the preferred license scheme:
* Copyright (c) [year] [your name]
*
* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
- *
*/
....
-The FreeBSD project strongly discourages the so-called "advertising clause" in new code.
-Due to the large number of contributors to the FreeBSD project, complying with this clause for many commercial vendors has become difficult.
-If you have code in the tree with the advertising clause, please consider removing it.
-In fact, please consider using the above license for your code.
+The preferred order is the copyright notice first, followed by the SPDX-License-Identifier, but either order is acceptable.
+New contributions to FreeBSD should use the BSD-2-Clause license.
+The FreeBSD project does not allow the "advertising clause" in new code.
+If you have code in the tree with the advertising clause, please consider switching to a license without it.
The FreeBSD project discourages completely new licenses and variations on the standard licenses.
-New licenses require the approval of {core-email} to reside in the `src` repository.
-The more different licenses that are used in the tree, the more problems that this causes to those wishing to utilize this code, typically from unintended consequences from a poorly worded license.
+New licenses require the approval of {core-email}.
Project policy dictates that code under some non-BSD licenses must be placed only in specific sections of the repository, and in some cases, compilation must be conditional or even disabled by default.
For example, the GENERIC kernel must be compiled under only licenses identical to or substantially similar to the BSD license.
@@ -2865,16 +2864,11 @@ Access to data within the license archive will be available on request to the {c
== SPDX Tags in the tree
The project uses https://spdx.dev[SPDX] tags in our source base.
-At present, these tags are indented to help automated tools reconstruct license requirements mechanically.
-All _SPDX-License-Identifier_ tags in the tree should be considered to be informative.
-All files in the FreeBSD source tree with these tags also have a copy of the license which governs use of that file.
-In the event of a discrepancy, the verbatim license is controlling.
-The project tries to follow the https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/v2.2.2/[SPDX Specification, Version 2.2].
-How to mark source files and valid algebraic expressions are found in https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/v2.2.2/SPDX-license-expressions/[Annex D] and https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/v2.2.2/using-SPDX-short-identifiers-in-source-files/[Annex E].
-The project draws identifiers from SPDX's list of valid https://spdx.org/licenses/[short license identifiers].
-The project uses only the _SPDX-License-Identifier_ tag.
-
-As of March 2021, approximately 25,000 out of 90,000 files in the tree have been marked.
+SPDX-only license marking (without reproducing the full license text) is strongly preferred for new files.
+When a file contains only a copyright notice and an SPDX-License-Identifier tag, the SPDX tag specifies the license for that file.
+When a file contains both an SPDX-License-Identifier tag and the full verbatim license text, the SPDX tag is informative and the verbatim license is controlling in the event of a discrepancy.
+The project draws identifiers from SPDX's list of valid https://spdx.org/licenses/[short license identifiers] and uses only the _SPDX-License-Identifier_ tag.
+See the extref:{license-guide}[FreeBSD License Policies] article for the full specification of how SPDX expressions are used in the FreeBSD software collection.
[[developer.relations]]
== Developer Relations
diff --git a/documentation/content/en/articles/contributing/_index.adoc b/documentation/content/en/articles/contributing/_index.adoc
index e9d8475e75..85e398d4f5 100644
--- a/documentation/content/en/articles/contributing/_index.adoc
+++ b/documentation/content/en/articles/contributing/_index.adoc
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ If you do not have access to a web or FTP site, ask on an appropriate FreeBSD ma
When working with large amounts of code, the touchy subject of copyrights also invariably comes up.
FreeBSD prefers free software licenses such as BSD or ISC.
Copyleft licenses such as GPLv2 are sometimes permitted.
-The complete listing can be found on the link:https://www.FreeBSD.org/internal/software-license/[core team licensing policy] page.
+The complete listing can be found in the extref:{license-guide}[FreeBSD License Policies] article.
=== Money or Hardware
diff --git a/documentation/content/en/articles/license-guide/_index.adoc b/documentation/content/en/articles/license-guide/_index.adoc
index 446af844c7..a5d12f5945 100644
--- a/documentation/content/en/articles/license-guide/_index.adoc
+++ b/documentation/content/en/articles/license-guide/_index.adoc
@@ -41,13 +41,17 @@ toc::[]
[[intro]]
+This policy applies to the FreeBSD source repository (src).
+The ports and documentation repositories have their own licensing guidelines.
+
[[pref-license]]
== Preferred License for New Files
The rest of this section is intended to help you get started.
As a rule, when in doubt, ask.
-It is much easier to receive advice than to fix the source tree.
+It is much easier to receive advice than to fix the source repository.
The FreeBSD Project makes use of both explicit licenses (where the verbatim text of the license is reproduced in each file) and detached licenses (where a tag in the file specifies the license, as described in this document).
+SPDX-only license marking (without reproducing the full license text) is preferred.
The FreeBSD Project uses this text as the preferred license:
@@ -60,6 +64,10 @@ The FreeBSD Project uses this text as the preferred license:
*/
....
+The preferred order is the copyright notice first, followed by the SPDX-License-Identifier, but either order is acceptable.
+When both SPDX-License-Idnetifier and the full text of the license are present, the full takes takes priority and the SPDX-License-Identifier is informational only.
+When both are present, the SPDX-License-Identifier will often preceed the copyright and license text.
+
The FreeBSD project does not allow using the "advertising clause" in new code.
Due to the large number of contributors to the FreeBSD project, complying with this clause for many commercial vendors has become difficult.
If you have code in the tree with the advertising clause, please consider switching to a license without it.
@@ -106,39 +114,63 @@ Such would ease their more integral adoption into the FreeBSD operating system.
=== Policy
+* The following are the SPDX-License-Identifiers that are considered BSD licenses for this policy
+** BSD-1-Clause
+** BSD-2-Clause
+** BSD-2-Clause-first-lines
+** BSD-3-Clause
+** BSD-3-Clause-acpica
+** BSD-3-Clause-flex
+** BSD-3-Clause-LBNL
+** BSD-3-Clause-Open-MPI
+** BSD-3-Clause-Sun
+** BSD-4.3RENO
+** BSD-4.3TAHOE
+** BSD-Source-beginning-file
+** CMU-Mach
+** ISC
+** MIT
+** MIT-CMU
+** SSH-OpenSSH
+** Vixie-Cron
+** Zlib
+
* The import of new software licensed under any licenses other than the BSD license and BSD-Like Licenses (as defined below) requires the prior approval of the FreeBSD Core Team.
Requests for import must include:
** A list of features or bug fixes that the new version or patches contain, along with evidence that our users need those features.
PRs or references to mailing list discussions are ideal forms of evidence.
** This process should be used for all software imports, not just those that require Core Team review.
-The mere existence of a new version does not justify an import of software to source or ports.
+The mere existence of a new version does not justify an import of software to source.
** A list of FreeBSD branches that may be affected.
Expansions of scope require a new request to and approval from the FreeBSD Core Team.
-* The Apache License 2.0 is acceptable for use in some cases.
+* The Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0) is acceptable for use in some cases.
The Core Team must approve the import of new Apache License licensed components or the change of license of existing components to the Apache License.
** This license is approved for the following components:
*** LLVM toolchain and (with LLVM Exceptions) runtime components.
-* The BSD+Patent License is acceptable for use in some cases.
+* The BSD+Patent License (BSD-2-Clause-Patent) is acceptable for use in some cases.
The Core Team must approve the import of new BSD+Patent License licensed components or the change of license of existing components to the BSD+Patent License.
** This license is approved for the following components:
*** EDK2 derived code related to UEFI functionality
-* The Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL) is acceptable for use in some cases.
+* The Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL-1.1) is acceptable for use in some cases.
The Core Team must approve the import of new CDDL licensed components or the change of license of existing components to the CDDL.
** This license is approved for the following components:
*** DTrace
*** ZFS filesystem, including kernel support and userland utilities
+* Initially, many items in the FreeBSD tree were marked with BSD-2-Clause-FreeBSD.
+However, SPDX has obsoleted the license as a variant; and most files tagged with it should have been BSD-2-Clause since SPDX's license text was for something else.
+Adding new files with this identifier is expressly prohibited.
+
+* The FreeBSD project discourages completely new licenses and variations on the standard licenses.
+
* Historically, the phrase 'All Rights Reserved.' was included in all copyright notices.
All the BSD releases had it, to comply with the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires_Convention[Buenos Aires Convention of 1910] in the Americas.
With the ratification of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention[Berne Convention] in 2000 by Nicaragua, the Buenos Aires Convention -- and the phrase -- became obsolete.
As such, the FreeBSD project recommends that new code omit the phrase and encourages existing copyright holders to remove it.
In 2018, the project updated its templates to remove it.
-* Initially, many items in the FreeBSD tree were marked with BSD-2-Clause-FreeBSD.
-However, SPDX has obsoleted the license as a variant; and the SPDX text of the obsolete tag differs enough from the standard FreeBSD license that it shouldn't be used.
-A review of its current use is ongoing.
==== Acceptable licenses
@@ -208,6 +240,8 @@ The FreeBSD Project currently does not make use of the `DEP5` files described in
The FreeBSD Project has not marked all the files in the tree yet in accordance with this standard, as described later in this document.
The FreeBSD Project has not yet included these files in its repositories since this policy is still evolving.
+This section is a work in progress.
+
[[individual-files]]
== Individual Files License
diff --git a/shared/bn-bd/urls.adoc b/shared/bn-bd/urls.adoc
index 436803811e..da7d59eaf9 100644
--- a/shared/bn-bd/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/bn-bd/urls.adoc
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/da/urls.adoc b/shared/da/urls.adoc
index a2baf6c540..5a97695226 100644
--- a/shared/da/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/da/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/de/urls.adoc b/shared/de/urls.adoc
index 2bd4c94c7f..c08994e84a 100644
--- a/shared/de/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/de/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/el/urls.adoc b/shared/el/urls.adoc
index 9a093e8c4b..2528152348 100644
--- a/shared/el/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/el/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/en/urls.adoc b/shared/en/urls.adoc
index a7d91bef33..bf937d4564 100644
--- a/shared/en/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/en/urls.adoc
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/es/urls.adoc b/shared/es/urls.adoc
index 2bfb2938fc..f5da24defa 100644
--- a/shared/es/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/es/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/fr/urls.adoc b/shared/fr/urls.adoc
index 10a92f8b5a..a95d0a76fc 100644
--- a/shared/fr/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/fr/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/hu/urls.adoc b/shared/hu/urls.adoc
index 0649b02474..baa70ce7a7 100644
--- a/shared/hu/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/hu/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/id/urls.adoc b/shared/id/urls.adoc
index 178c033051..a9777eddf4 100644
--- a/shared/id/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/id/urls.adoc
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/it/urls.adoc b/shared/it/urls.adoc
index bf4456a22c..a72cbe14ff 100644
--- a/shared/it/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/it/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/ja/urls.adoc b/shared/ja/urls.adoc
index 1d83477031..6297daf712 100644
--- a/shared/ja/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/ja/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/ko/urls.adoc b/shared/ko/urls.adoc
index cb07b33587..df9dcb360c 100644
--- a/shared/ko/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/ko/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/mn/urls.adoc b/shared/mn/urls.adoc
index ba5b5e73a7..2121cd3ad1 100644
--- a/shared/mn/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/mn/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/nl/urls.adoc b/shared/nl/urls.adoc
index 071eb2d43d..833828b5e4 100644
--- a/shared/nl/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/nl/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/pl/urls.adoc b/shared/pl/urls.adoc
index 54b2860684..f50d9a4bb1 100644
--- a/shared/pl/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/pl/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/pt-br/urls.adoc b/shared/pt-br/urls.adoc
index 1ab8387e6d..3a9a905e93 100644
--- a/shared/pt-br/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/pt-br/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/ru/urls.adoc b/shared/ru/urls.adoc
index 9b813055f4..2c17de0fbe 100644
--- a/shared/ru/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/ru/urls.adoc
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/tr/urls.adoc b/shared/tr/urls.adoc
index 8690fe28cd..09dad0dcb8 100644
--- a/shared/tr/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/tr/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site-en}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/zh-cn/urls.adoc b/shared/zh-cn/urls.adoc
index 784ae32d87..fb3922c297 100644
--- a/shared/zh-cn/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/zh-cn/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site-en}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/shared/zh-tw/urls.adoc b/shared/zh-tw/urls.adoc
index 793f3395a3..d977fcc2ae 100644
--- a/shared/zh-tw/urls.adoc
+++ b/shared/zh-tw/urls.adoc
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ endif::[]
:ipsec-must: {main-site-en}/articles/ipsec-must/
:ldap-auth: {main-site-en}/articles/ldap-auth/
:leap-seconds: {main-site}/articles/leap-seconds/
+:license-guide: {main-site}/articles/license-guide/
:linux-emulation: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-emulation/
:linux-users: {main-site-en}/articles/linux-users/
:mailing-list-faq: {main-site}/articles/mailing-list-faq/
diff --git a/website/content/en/internal/members.adoc b/website/content/en/internal/members.adoc
index c806164edf..6d0e35c74a 100644
--- a/website/content/en/internal/members.adoc
+++ b/website/content/en/internal/members.adoc
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ All Members should ensure that all contributed material:
* adheres to the Project's standards and practices.
* is correctly attributed to its authors.
-* has appropriate licensing. Where this is the original work of the Project Member, the standard FreeBSD license is preferred.
+* has appropriate licensing. Where this is the original work of the Project Member, the standard FreeBSD license is preferred. See the link:{license-guide}[FreeBSD License Policies] for details.
Members MUST create SSH and PGP keys in order to gain access to Project resources.
diff --git a/website/content/en/internal/policies.adoc b/website/content/en/internal/policies.adoc
index 88a4a8f7db..15d85cb7e2 100644
--- a/website/content/en/internal/policies.adoc
+++ b/website/content/en/internal/policies.adoc
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ It contains almost everything a new committer to the FreeBSD Project needs to kn
* link:../i18n[Internationalization Policy]
* link:../new-account[New Account Creation Procedure]
* link:{pr-guidelines}[Problem Report Handling Guidelines]
-* link:../software-license[Software License Policy]
+* link:../software-license[Software License Policy] (see also the link:{license-guide}[full license policy])
* link:../data[User Data Policy]
* link:../members[FreeBSD Project Membership]
* link:../cross-repo-commits[Cross Repo Committing Policy]
diff --git a/website/content/en/internal/software-license.adoc b/website/content/en/internal/software-license.adoc
index 33ee535e95..1f2f6f308f 100644
--- a/website/content/en/internal/software-license.adoc
+++ b/website/content/en/internal/software-license.adoc
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@ title: "Software License Policy"
sidenav: docs
---
+include::shared/en/urls.adoc[]
+
= Software License Policy
+The canonical FreeBSD license policy, including preferred license templates, acceptable licenses, and SPDX usage, is documented in the link:{license-guide}[FreeBSD License Policies] article.
+
+What follows is a summary of the key points.
+
== Philosophy
The FreeBSD Project aims to produce a complete, BSD-licensed operating system allowing consumers of the system to produce derivative products without constraint or further license obligations.
@@ -20,142 +26,3 @@ Unless a special exception is made, no existing BSD-licensed components may be r
We instead encourage FreeBSD and third party developers to seek the relicensing or reimplementation of critical components under the BSD license.
Such would ease their more integral adoption into the FreeBSD operating system.
-== Policy
-
-* The import of new software licensed under any licenses other than the BSD license and BSD-Like Licenses (as defined below) requires the prior approval of the FreeBSD Core Team. Requests for import must include:
-** A list of features or bug fixes that the new version or patches contain, along with evidence that our users need those features. PRs or references to mailing list discussions are ideal forms of evidence.
-** A list of FreeBSD branches that may be affected. Expansions of scope require a new request to and approval from the FreeBSD Core Team.
-
-* The Apache License 2.0 is acceptable for use in some cases. The Core Team must approve the import of new Apache License licensed components or the change of license of existing components to the Apache License.
-** This license is approved for the following components:
-*** LLVM toolchain and (with LLVM Exceptions) runtime components.
-*** Subversion and its dependencies
-
-* The BSD+Patent License is acceptable for use in some cases. The Core Team must approve the import of new BSD+Patent License licensed components or the change of license of existing components to the BSD+Patent License.
-** This license is approved for the following components:
-*** EDK2 derived code related to UEFI functionality
-
-* The Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL) is acceptable for use in some cases. The Core Team must approve the import of new CDDL licensed components or the change of license of existing components to the CDDL.
-** This license is approved for the following components:
-*** DTrace
-*** ZFS filesystem including kernel support and userland utilities
-
-* Historically, the phrase 'All Rights Reserved.' was included in all copyright notices. The BSD releases had it to comply with the Buenos Aires Convention of 1910 in the Americas. With the ratification of the Berne Convention in 2000, it became obsolete. As such, the FreeBSD project recommends that new code omit the phrase and encourages existing copyright holders to remove it. In 2018, the project updated its templates to remove it.
-
-=== Acceptable licenses
-
-The following licenses are considered to be acceptable BSD-Like Licenses for the purpose of this Policy. They must be reproduced verbatim on any new code. Deviations or the use of any other license must be approved by the FreeBSD Core Team:
-
-* The 2 clause version of the BSD license
-
-....
-/*
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
- *
- * Copyright (c) [year] [your name]
- *
- * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
- * are met:
- * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
- * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
- * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
- *
- * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
- * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
- * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
- * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
- * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
- * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
- * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
- * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
- * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
- * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
- * SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-....
-* The 3 clause version of the BSD license
-
-....
-/*
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
- *
- * Copyright (c) [year] [your name]
- *
- * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
- * are met:
- * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
- * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
- * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
- * 3. Neither the name of the author nor the names of its contributors may
- * be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
- *
- * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
- * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
- * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
- * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
- * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
- * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
- * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
- * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
- * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
- * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
- * SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-....
-* The ISC License
-
-....
-/*
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: ISC
- *
- * Copyright (c) [year] [copyright holder]
- *
- * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
- * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
- * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
- *
- * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
- * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
- * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
- * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
- * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
- * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
- * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
- */
-....
-* The MIT License
-
-....
-/*
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
- *
- * Copyright (c) [year] [copyright holders]
- *
- * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
- * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
- * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
- * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
- * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
- * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
- *
- * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
- * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
- *
- * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
- * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
- * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
- * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
- * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
- * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
- * THE SOFTWARE.
- */
-....
-
-* It is acceptable to use only the SPDX-License-Identifier
-** See https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/[Annex D of SPDX Standard] for definition of standard SPDX-License-Identifier expressions used, how to interpret them and where to find the license text(s) that are applicable.