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An open-source license allows for a software product to be shared in certain ways, or for some types of collaborative research or development. In general, open-source licensing allows the source code of a project to be open or transparent, utilized by third parties, or changed or manipulated by members of a developer community.
There are different types of open-source software, such as Apache software licenses, “Berkeley” or BSD licenses, and various types of GNU licenses. Some of these arose from different kinds of research and development projects within open developer communities. They also have their own rules. For example, some open-source licenses require different users to attribute source code to its creators.
Open-source licenses are standardized by groups like the Open Source Initiative, a global non-profit, and play a big role in the emergence of new technologies today. For instance, pioneers on the open-source Open Stack framework are contending that this type of platform serves companies and customers better than some traditional licensed products or services.