# What Is the Open-SEO License? MIT Terms and Usage Rights

> Understand the Open-SEO License, based on MIT terms. Learn how you can use, modify, and distribute Open-SEO software freely while preserving the copyright notice.

- Repository: [Every App/open-seo](https://github.com/every-app/open-seo)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-08-06

---

**Open-SEO is distributed under the permissive MIT License**, allowing anyone to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell the software provided the copyright notice and permission notice are preserved.

The open-seo license for the `every-app/open-seo` repository is formally declared in the `LICENSE` file at the project root. This licensing choice aligns with the project's goal of providing an accessible, open-source SEO toolkit while minimizing legal friction for developers and organizations.

## MIT License Permissions and Limitations

According to the `LICENSE` file in the `every-app/open-seo` repository, the MIT License grants broad freedoms with minimal restrictions. Users may:

- Use the software for commercial or non-commercial purposes
- Modify the source code for private or public use
- Distribute original or modified versions
- Sublicense or sell copies of the software

The license requires that the copyright notice and permission notice appear in all copies or substantial portions. Additionally, the license explicitly disclaims warranties, limiting liability for the authors and contributors.

## Where the Open-SEO License Is Documented

The project declares its licensing status in two critical locations.

### The LICENSE File

The complete MIT license text resides in the repository's `LICENSE` file. This document contains the full legal terms governing the use of Open-SEO, including the copyright holder's name and the year of publication.

### The package.json Metadata

The [`package.json`](https://github.com/every-app/open-seo/blob/main/package.json) file specifies the license type in the `license` field:

```json
{
  "name": "my-awesome-seo-tool",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "license": "MIT"
}

```

This metadata allows package managers and automated tools to identify the open-seo license without parsing the full legal text.

## How to Verify the Open-SEO License Programmatically

Developers can confirm the licensing status of Open-SEO and its dependencies through several programmatic methods.

### Check via npm

Query the license field directly using the npm CLI:

```bash
npm view open-seo license

```

This command returns `MIT`, confirming the open-seo license type without downloading the package.

### Display License at Runtime

To programmatically access the license text within a TypeScript application:

```typescript
import { readFileSync } from "fs";
import { resolve } from "path";

const license = readFileSync(resolve(__dirname, "../LICENSE"), "utf-8");
console.log("Open-SEO is licensed under:", license.split("\n")[0]);

```

This approach reads the `LICENSE` file directly from the filesystem using `readFileSync`, displaying the first line which typically contains the license name.

## Summary

- Open-SEO uses the **MIT License**, a permissive open-source license allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
- The complete license text is located in the repository's **`LICENSE`** file at the root level.
- The **[`package.json`](https://github.com/every-app/open-seo/blob/main/package.json)** file declares `"license": "MIT"` for automated tool compatibility.
- Users must include the original copyright notice and permission notice when distributing copies or derivative works.
- The license disclaims all warranties and limits liability for the project authors.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What type of license does Open-SEO use?

Open-SEO is distributed under the **MIT License**. This permissive license allows reuse for any purpose, including commercial applications, provided the copyright notice and license text are included with the software.

### Can I use Open-SEO in commercial projects?

Yes. The MIT License explicitly permits commercial use, including selling copies of the software or incorporating it into proprietary products. You must retain the copyright notice found in the `LICENSE` file, but you are not required to open-source your own code.

### Where is the license text stored in the Open-SEO repository?

The full MIT license text is stored in the **`LICENSE`** file at the repository root (`every-app/open-seo`). The [`package.json`](https://github.com/every-app/open-seo/blob/main/package.json) file also references "MIT" in its license field for quick identification by package managers.

### Do I need to include the MIT license notice when using Open-SEO?

Yes. The MIT License requires that the copyright notice and permission notice appear in all copies or substantial portions of the software. This typically means including the `LICENSE` file or a copy of its text in your project's documentation or distribution files.