License Comparison

Quick Comparison Table

Detailed Comparisons

FFP vs MIT License

Similarities:

• Both are permissive licenses
• Both allow commercial use
• Both require license and copyright notice preservation
• Both disclaim warranties and liability
• Neither requires source code disclosure

Differences:

• Patent Grant: FFP includes an explicit patent grant; MIT does not
• Patent Retaliation: FFP terminates patent rights for patent litigation; MIT has no patent provisions
• License Length: FFP is more detailed with explicit definitions and terms
• Attribution: FFP explicitly requires preservation of all attribution notices
• No Lockdown: FFP explicitly prohibits measures that restrict recipients' rights

When to choose FFP over MIT: When patent protection is important to you or your project.

When to choose MIT over FFP: When you want maximum simplicity and the most widely recognized permissive license.

FFP vs Apache License 2.0

Similarities:

• Both are permissive licenses with explicit patent grants
• Both include patent retaliation clauses
• Both allow commercial use and modification
• Both require license and copyright notice preservation
• Both disclaim warranties and liability

Differences:

• State Changes: Apache 2.0 requires documenting changes; FFP does not
• NOTICE File: Apache 2.0 has specific NOTICE file requirements; FFP does not
• Reinstatement: FFP has a more flexible cure provision for violations

When to choose FFP over Apache 2.0: When you want simpler compliance requirements.

When to choose Apache 2.0 over FFP: When you want a widely-recognized, legally vetted license with stronger trademark protections.

FFP vs GPL v3

Similarities:

• Both include patent grants and retaliation provisions
• Both allow commercial use and modification
• Both disclaim warranties and liability

Major Differences:

• Copyleft: GPL v3 is copyleft (derivative works must be GPL); FFP is permissive
• Source Disclosure: GPL v3 requires source code disclosure; FFP does not
• Same License: GPL v3 requires derivatives to be GPL-licensed; FFP allows relicensing
• Complexity: GPL v3 is much longer and more complex

When to choose FFP over GPL v3: When you want to allow proprietary derivatives or minimize compliance burden.

When to choose GPL v3 over FFP: When you want to ensure all derivatives remain open source.

FFP vs BSD 3-Clause

Similarities:

• Both are permissive licenses
• Both allow commercial use and modification
• Both require copyright and license preservation

Differences:

• Patent Grant: FFP includes an explicit patent grant; BSD 3-Clause does not
• Patent Retaliation: FFP has patent retaliation; BSD 3-Clause does not
• Endorsement: BSD 3-Clause has an explicit non-endorsement clause; FFP has it too (Section 7)
• No Lockdown: FFP explicitly prohibits locking down recipients' rights; BSD 3-Clause does not

When to choose FFP over BSD 3-Clause: When patent protection matters.

When to choose BSD 3-Clause over FFP: When you want maximum brevity and recognition.

Summary: Is FFP Right for Your Project?

Choose the FFP License if you want a permissive license that:

• Allows maximum freedom for users and contributors
• Includes explicit patent protection
• Has a minimal compliance burden
• Protects against patent litigation abuse
• Is clear and readable

FFP v1.0 vs v2.0