Is BSD-3 compatible with GPL 2.0?
BSD-3-licensed code is compatible with a GPL 2.0 project. Here is what that means for your obligations, conflicts, and distribution.
The license of the code you want to use.
The license you are applying to your project.
The short answer
Permissive licenses like BSD-3 carry few restrictions, so they can be absorbed into copyleft projects like GPL 2.0.
Key obligations
Retain the original copyright notices and license text for the BSD-3 components.
Potential conflicts
None. The copyleft terms supersede the permissive terms for the combined work.
Distribution notes
The combined work as a whole must be distributed under GPL 2.0.
Deep-dive resources
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What this means in practice
BSD 3-Clause is a permissive license and GNU GPL v2.0 (Only) is a strong copyleft license. That combination is generally safe to ship: you can include the BSD-3 library in a GPL 2.0 project as long as you meet the notice and distribution requirements below. Internal-only use rarely triggers copyleft obligations, while shipping binaries or running a public network service is more likely to.
Compliance checklist for BSD-3 → GPL 2.0
- Retain the original BSD-3 copyright and license notices.
- Record that your project bundles BSD-3-licensed components (e.g. in an attribution or NOTICE file).
- Distribute the combined work under terms that satisfy GPL 2.0.
- Re-check the verdict if you switch to SaaS delivery or start modifying the component.
About these licenses
BSD 3-Clause
LibraryPermissive like MIT, plus a clause barring use of the project's name to endorse derived products.
- Type
- Permissive
- Patent grant
- None
- Source sharing
- Not required
GNU GPL v2.0 (Only)
ProjectStrong copyleft. Distributing a combined work means releasing all of it under GPL v2.0. The "only" variant is incompatible with the GPL v3 family.
- Type
- Strong copyleft
- Patent grant
- None
- Source sharing
- Entire combined work
BSD-3 and GPL 2.0: frequently asked questions
Common questions about combining BSD 3-Clause and GNU GPL v2.0 (Only).
Is BSD-3 compatible with GPL 2.0?
Permissive licenses like BSD-3 carry few restrictions, so they can be absorbed into copyleft projects like GPL 2.0.
Can I use BSD-3 code in a GPL 2.0 SaaS or cloud application?
Permissive licenses like BSD-3 carry few restrictions, so they can be absorbed into copyleft projects like GPL 2.0.
What are my obligations when combining BSD-3 and GPL 2.0?
Retain the original copyright notices and license text for the BSD-3 components. The combined work as a whole must be distributed under GPL 2.0.