Philosophy
The LUCA Free License (Liberty Unrestricted for Creative Autonomy) was born from a simple belief: software should be truly free.
Not free as in "free beer" or free with a thousand strings attached. Free as in "do whatever the fuck you want with it."
The Problem with Existing Licenses
Modern software licensing has become unnecessarily complex
MIT/BSD
Great licenses, but require attribution in every distribution. This can be burdensome for developers.
GPL
Forces copyleft, restricting how you can use the code. Not ideal for commercial integration.
Apache 2.0
Comes with pages of legal text and complex patent clauses. Excellent but verbose.
WTFPL
Simple and radical, but legally questionable in some jurisdictions. Lacks proper disclaimers.
Each has its place, but sometimes you just want to say: "Here's my code. Use it. I don't care how. Good luck."
The LUCA Solution
1. Maximum Freedom
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO
The core principle. No restrictions, no limitations, no strings attached.
2. Legal Protection
No warranty - we're not responsible for your use
Clear warranty disclaimer protects developers from liability.
3. Severability
If parts fail, the rest stands
Ensures the license remains valid across different jurisdictions.
Design Principles
1. Maximum Freedom
We believe that once you release code to the world, you should release it fully. No strings, no conditions, no complex requirements. True freedom means the recipient can do anything they want with the code.
2. Legal Clarity
While keeping the spirit of simplicity, LUCA includes necessary legal protections:
- Clear warranty disclaimer
- Severability clause (if one part fails, the rest stands)
- Explicit statement of permissions
3. Universal Applicability
LUCA is designed to work across jurisdictions. The severability clause ensures that even if a court strikes down part of the license, the core principle remains: do what you want.
4. Developer-Friendly
We wrote LUCA for developers, not lawyers. You shouldn't need a law degree to understand your rights and obligations.
History
LUCA was created in February 2026 as an evolution of the permissive license philosophy. Inspired by licenses like WTFPL but designed with modern legal considerations in mind, LUCA aims to be both maximally permissive and legally sound.
The Name
L - Liberty
True freedom to use, modify, and distribute
U - Unrestricted
No artificial limitations on your rights
C - Creative
Empowering developers to create without barriers
A - Autonomy
Full control over your use of the software
The name also references LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) in biology - the ancestor of all life. Similarly, this license aims to be a foundation that can evolve into whatever you need it to be.
Who Should Use LUCA?
Perfect For:
Open Source Enthusiasts
Who believe in true freedom
Educators
Sharing code without licensing hassles
Hackers & Tinkerers
Releasing tools and experiments
Businesses
Wanting to donate code without obligations
Anyone
Who just wants to share code without bureaucracy
Maybe Not For:
Attribution Requirements
Projects requiring attribution for recognition
Copyleft Needs
Projects wanting to ensure modifications stay open (use GPL instead)
Regulated Industries
Projects in heavily regulated industries (might need more specific warranties)
Legal Departments
Organizations with strict legal departments (they might prefer Apache 2.0)
Legal Standing
LUCA is designed to be legally sound
Warranty Disclaimer
Clear and comprehensive disclaimer of all warranties
Severability
Ensures the license remains valid even if parts are struck down
Explicit Grant
Clear grant of permissions to use, modify, and distribute
Self-Modifiable
The license itself can be modified and redistributed
Legal Review: While we encourage you to review any license with your legal counsel, LUCA's simplicity makes it easier to understand and evaluate than many alternatives.
Inspiration
We stand on the shoulders of giants
WTFPL
For radical simplicity and the courage to say "do what you want"
MIT License
For clarity, acceptance, and establishing permissive licensing
Unlicense
For dedication to public domain and maximum freedom
BSD
For the permissive philosophy and developer-friendly approach
The Bottom Line
LUCA exists because sometimes you just want to release code into the world and say "have fun." No drama, no tracking, no requirements. Just pure, unadulterated freedom.
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.