What Are the Licensing Details for OpenLogi?

OpenLogi is dual-licensed under the MIT and Apache 2.0 licenses, allowing users to choose either permissive license while preserving copyright notices and complying with separate terms for third-party code and brand assets.

OpenLogi is an open-source project designed for managing Logitech input devices through the HID++ protocol. According to the repository's README.md, the codebase is dual-licensed, meaning you can elect to use either the MIT License or the Apache License 2.0 at your discretion. This flexibility maximizes compatibility with both proprietary and open-source ecosystems while maintaining clear attribution requirements for the original author, AprilNEA.

Dual Licensing Model

The repository root contains two complete license texts: LICENSE-MIT and LICENSE-APACHE. Both licenses grant broad permissions to use, modify, and distribute the software, but they differ in specific protections and attribution requirements.

MIT License (LICENSE-MIT)

The MIT License offers a minimalist approach to permissive licensing. It grants you the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell the software. The primary condition is that you must include the original copyright notice and permission notice in all copies or substantial portions of the code. This option is ideal for projects seeking maximum simplicity with minimal compliance overhead.

Apache License 2.0 (LICENSE-APACHE)

The Apache License 2.0 provides the same core permissions as MIT but adds an explicit patent grant. This clause protects users from patent claims by contributors, making it preferable for commercial deployments where patent litigation is a concern. The license requires you to preserve copyright and notice files, provide a copy of the Apache license, document any changes made to the source, and refrain from using the project's trademarks without permission.

Choosing Between Licenses

Because the MIT license is functionally a subset of Apache 2.0, you do not need to redistribute both licenses simultaneously. You may choose either license based on your project's legal requirements. Both require retaining the copyright notice "Copyright (c) 2026 AprilNEA" in derivative works.

Third-Party Code and Brand Assets

Not all files in the OpenLogi repository fall under the dual MIT/Apache scheme. The project incorporates vendored dependencies and separate creative assets governed by distinct licenses.

Vendored HID++ Driver (0BSD)

The crates/openlogi-hidpp directory contains a vendored fork of the hidpp crate, which is licensed under the 0BSD (Zero-Clause BSD) license. This public-domain-equivalent license imposes no attribution requirements, but the source files retain their original headers referencing the upstream project. When modifying this specific crate, verify the license terms in the individual file headers rather than the root LICENSE-MIT or LICENSE-APACHE files.

Design Assets and Trademarks

The brand assets—including the OpenLogi logo, icons, and design files—are not covered by the MIT or Apache licenses. These materials are located in the design/ directory and are protected under a separate license specified in design/LICENSE. These assets are © 2026 AprilNEA, and forks or redistributions must not use the OpenLogi name or logo without explicit written permission from the copyright holder.

Compliance: Adding License Headers

When contributing new source files or creating derivative works, you should include an SPDX identifier and copyright header to satisfy license notice requirements. The repository accepts files under either license, but you must specify which one you choose.

MIT License Header

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
//
// Copyright (c) 2026 AprilNEA
//
// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
// of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
// in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
// to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
// copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
// furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
//
// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
// copies or substantial portions of the Software.

fn main() {
    println!("Hello, OpenLogi!");
}

Apache 2.0 License Header

// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
//
// Copyright (c) 2026 AprilNEA
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.

fn main() {
    println!("Hello, OpenLogi!");
}

Modern Rust tooling such as cargo deny recognizes these SPDX identifiers, enabling automated license compliance checking in CI/CD pipelines.

Key License Files

The following files define the legal framework for using OpenLogi:

• LICENSE-MIT – Full text of the MIT license governing the choice of that specific license.
• LICENSE-APACHE – Complete Apache License 2.0 text, including the Appendix for applying the license to your work.
• README.md (License section) – Human-readable summary of the dual-licensing choice and third-party attribution requirements.
• design/LICENSE – Separate license terms for non-code assets (logos, icons, and brand identity).
• crates/openlogi-hidpp/ – Directory containing 0BSD-licensed vendored code with distinct licensing from the main project.

Summary

• OpenLogi uses a dual MIT/Apache 2.0 license, allowing you to select either based on your project's needs.
• Both licenses require preserving the copyright notice for AprilNEA (2026) in all copies.
• Apache 2.0 provides explicit patent protection, while MIT offers simpler attribution requirements.
• The crates/openlogi-hidpp directory is governed by the 0BSD license, not the dual license.
• Brand assets in design/ are under a separate proprietary license and cannot be reused without permission.
• Use SPDX identifiers in source file headers to ensure compliance with automated license checking tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use OpenLogi in a commercial closed-source product?

Yes. Both the MIT and Apache 2.0 licenses permit commercial use, distribution, and modification without requiring you to open-source your own code. You must include the copyright notice and license text in your documentation or "About" section, but your proprietary code remains separate.

Do I have to choose one license or can I use both?

You must choose either MIT or Apache 2.0 for your specific use case; you do not need to comply with both simultaneously. The dual-licensing structure exists to give you options, not to impose additional requirements. However, you cannot remove or alter the existing copyright notices in the original source files.

What happens if I fork OpenLogi and modify the HID++ driver?

Modifications to files within crates/openlogi-hidpp fall under the 0BSD license terms, meaning you face virtually no restrictions. However, modifications to other parts of the codebase must comply with whichever dual license (MIT or Apache 2.0) you selected for your project. You cannot relicense the 0BSD portions under more restrictive terms, though you may combine them with code under other permissive licenses.

Can I use the OpenLogi logo for my forked project?

No. The brand assets, including the name "OpenLogi" and associated logos located in the design/ directory, are not open source. They are protected under a separate license in design/LICENSE. Forks must use a distinct name and branding to avoid infringing on AprilNEA's trademarks.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}