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Welcome

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: 02/04/2025

Licensing Assistant (Select and compare open licences)

Exclusive Interoperable Europe Portal Tool
LicensingOpen Source Software
0
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Last update: 20/03/2025

Portal Legal support (questions will be answered)

Summary of the legal support provided by the Interoperable Europe Portal
LicensingOpen Source Software
0
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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
0
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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
0
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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
1
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Last update: 18/09/2025

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
1
Custom page
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
3
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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
0
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Do you have any questions related to licensing or legal support?

Please fill this Contact Form (selecting "legal issue" in the Category field).

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