Open-source license checker for AI tools
Pick a license and see in plain English whether you can use it commercially, modify it, run it as a hosted service and keep changes private, plus which AgentScout directory tools use it.
Free, no sign-up. Runs entirely in your browser: nothing you type is sent to AgentScout or any AI provider.
Plain-English summary of common terms, not legal advice. Always read the license text in the project's repository, and ask a lawyer for anything important. Some projects add extra terms or use different licenses for different parts.
Open source vs source-available
Open-source licenses (MIT, Apache, BSD, MPL, LGPL, GPL, AGPL) let anyone use, change and share the code, with conditions that range from keeping a notice (permissive) to sharing your changes (copyleft). Source-available licenses (ELv2, BSL, SSPL) publish the code but restrict some uses, most often offering it as a competing hosted service. AgentScout labels these as "Source-available" in the directory.
FAQ
Can I use MIT or Apache 2.0 AI tools in a commercial product?
Yes. Both are permissive: you can use, change and sell software that includes them, as long as you keep the license and copyright notices (and, for Apache 2.0, the NOTICE file and a note of significant changes).
What is the catch with AGPL?
If you change AGPL software and let people use it over a network, for example as a web app, you must offer them the source code of your changed version.
Is source-available the same as open source?
No. Licenses like the Elastic License 2.0, Business Source License and SSPL publish the code but restrict some uses, typically running it as a competing hosted service.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a plain-English summary of common license terms. Read the actual license and ask a lawyer when it matters.
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