Is BSD-3 compatible with MIT?
BSD-3-licensed code is compatible with a MIT 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
Both licenses are permissive and place minimal restrictions on combining, modifying, and distributing the code.
Key obligations
Retain copyright notices and disclaimers for the BSD-3 code.
Potential conflicts
None. Both licenses allow free incorporation into other works.
Distribution notes
Distribute under MIT, respecting the notice requirements of BSD-3.
Deep-dive resources
Stop guessing. Start automating.
Modern applications pull in hundreds of transitive dependencies. A manual check can't keep up.
Disclaimer: This tool offers general guidance based on widely accepted open source community norms and does not constitute legal advice. For commercial use, always consult legal counsel or use a dedicated compliance platform like FOSSA to analyze your specific dependency graph.
What this means in practice
BSD 3-Clause is a permissive license and MIT License is a permissive license. That combination is generally safe to ship: you can include the BSD-3 library in a MIT 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 → MIT
- 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 MIT.
- 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
MIT License
ProjectA short, highly permissive license. Use it almost anywhere as long as you keep the copyright and license notice.
- Type
- Permissive
- Patent grant
- None
- Source sharing
- Not required
BSD-3 and MIT: frequently asked questions
Common questions about combining BSD 3-Clause and MIT License.
Is BSD-3 compatible with MIT?
Both licenses are permissive and place minimal restrictions on combining, modifying, and distributing the code.
Can I use BSD-3 code in a MIT SaaS or cloud application?
Both licenses are permissive and place minimal restrictions on combining, modifying, and distributing the code.
What are my obligations when combining BSD-3 and MIT?
Retain copyright notices and disclaimers for the BSD-3 code. Distribute under MIT, respecting the notice requirements of BSD-3.