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This EUPL collection focuses on open licensing. It includes the European Union Public Licence, a Licensing Assistant, and guidance for IT developers, practitioners, and users to define the conditions for sharing and reusing software.

Discover the European Union Public Licence (EUPL) and its impact on open source licensing. Explore the evolution of free/open source software (F/OSS or FLOSS) legal frameworks—from early drafts to the latest EUPL versions—and how they support public administration and broader software freedom initiatives. 

According to the Interoperable Europe Act (8.4) public sector portals of open source solutions and connected to the Interoperable Europe Portal shall allow for the use of the EUPL.

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Understanding the EUPL and Open Licensing

The European Union Public Licence (EUPL) is the first open-source licence with a working value in all EU official languages. It is reasonably "share-alike/reciprocal," like the LGPL, but also covers remote distribution.

Everyone in the world (and not Europeans only): IT developers, practitioners, and users who need guidance in defining the conditions under which a solution may be freely shared and reused, considering the legal framework.

Clear licensing rules form the regulatory basis for sharing and reusing software solutions while supporting legal interoperability. While the EUPL ensures these principles, other licences may also facilitate compatibility and interoperability.

By Decision C (2021) 8759, the EUPL is provided for European Commission distributed software.
According to the Interoperable Europe Act (8.4) all public sector portals providing open source solutions shall allow for the use of the EUPL.

Got questions about using the EUPL? Visit our FAQ for answers!

Latest updates

Last update: 21/03/2025

Articles & Documents

The documentation directory provides articles and resources on the EUPL, covering its use, compatibility, and legal aspects.
LicensingOpen Source Software
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Last update: 21/03/2025

Guidelines for users and developers

These guidelines show how to use the EUPL to share, modify, and distribute software.
LicensingOpen Source Software
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Last update: 13/03/2025

Introduction to the EUPL licence

Key points of the EUPL that is proposed by the European Commission, but is not reserved to Europeans and can be used anywhere in the world.
European PoliciesLegal+4 topics
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Last update: 19/03/2025

EUPL text (EUPL-1.2)

EUPL-1.2 Text in 23 languages - developer 80 car version - Previous EUPL-1.1 in attachments
European PoliciesLegal+4 topics
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Last update: 24/03/2025

Matrix of EUPL compatible open source licences

This matrix shows which open source licenses are compatible with the EUPL, helping you see how different licensing options work together.
LicensingOpen Source SoftwareReusable Software Components
2
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Last update: 26/02/2025

Licence Compatibility, Permissivity, Reciprocity and Interoperability

The guidelines explain how the EUPL works with other licenses, sets rules for reciprocal sharing, and supports software interoperability.
LicensingOpen Source Software
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Last update: 26/02/2025

Licences & complementary agreements

Complementary agreements supplement the EUPL with extra legal terms to tailor software licensing.
LicensingOpen Source Software
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Last update: 06/03/2020

The EUPL, Guidelines, FAQ, Infographics

The “European Union Public Licence” (EUPL) The EUPL is the first European Free/Open Source Software (F/OSS) licence. It has been created on the initiative of the European Commission. It is now...
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Last update: 13/10/2017

Wiz-0307

You have build your program as a derivative, based on some existing software component, licensed to you under another licence. This other licence is not supported by this guide. Please investigate...
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Last update: 13/10/2017

Wiz-0308

You have build your program as a derivative, based on existing software component, licensed to you under the licence OSL or Eclipse (EPL). Your program, including the modified or un-modified component...
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Last update: 13/10/2017

Wiz-03

You have received software from another licensor, or derivated your program from components covered by other licence(s) (i.e. you have downloaded and modified the source: localisation in your language...
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