# What License Does WeatherNext Use? Apache 2.0 Explained

> Discover the Apache 2.0 license for WeatherNext. Understand its open-source terms for using, modifying, and distributing the code freely.

- Repository: [Google DeepMind/weathernext](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-08-16

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**WeatherNext is released under the Apache License 2.0**, a permissive open-source license that grants worldwide, royalty-free rights to use, modify, and distribute the code.

This article explains the **WeatherNext license** terms, how to comply with them in your own projects, and where to find the complete license text in the `google-deepmind/weathernext` repository. Understanding the Apache 2.0 license ensures you can legally integrate this weather forecasting AI into commercial and research applications.

## Apache License 2.0: Key Permissions and Requirements

The **Apache License 2.0** governing WeatherNext provides four essential freedoms:

- **Use** – Run the code for any purpose, including commercial applications
- **Modify** – Create derivative works and custom adaptations
- **Distribute** – Share original or modified versions publicly or privately
- **Sublicense** – Grant these same rights to downstream users

Two obligations accompany these permissions. You must **retain copyright notices** and **include a copy of the license** with any distribution. The license explicitly grants patent rights to contributors, protecting users from patent infringement claims related to the code.

## Where to Find the WeatherNext License Text

The complete license terms are stored in the repository's root directory.

| File | Path | Purpose |
|------|------|---------|
| LICENSE | `/LICENSE` | Full Apache 2.0 legal text |
| README.md | [`/README.md`](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main//README.md) | Project overview with licensing references |
| setup.py | [`/setup.py`](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main//setup.py) | Build metadata including license field |

You can view the canonical license at `https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main/LICENSE`.

## How to Comply When Using WeatherNext

### Adding License Headers to Your Code

When incorporating WeatherNext into Python projects, include the standard Apache 2.0 header in files that use or adapt the codebase:

```python

# 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.

import weathernext  # Your code can now import WeatherNext modules

```

This header satisfies the **retention of notices** requirement and clearly identifies your file's licensing status.

### Packaging with Proper License Metadata

For Python packages that depend on WeatherNext, specify the license in your distribution configuration:

```bash

# In setup.cfg or pyproject.toml, ensure the license field is set:

# [metadata]

# name = your-package

# version = 0.1.0

# license = Apache License 2.0

# license_files = LICENSE

```

The `license_files` directive ensures the full Apache 2.0 text accompanies your package, meeting distribution requirements automatically.

## Apache 2.0 vs. Other Common AI/ML Licenses

Researchers comparing **WeatherNext's license** to alternatives should understand these distinctions:

- **MIT License** – Similar permissiveness but lacks explicit patent protection; Apache 2.0's patent clause is stronger
- **BSD-3-Clause** – Permissive like Apache 2.0 but without patent grants or contributor licensing terms
- **GPL-3.0** – Copyleft license requiring derivative works to use the same license; Apache 2.0 imposes no such reciprocity
- **Proprietary licenses** – Restrict usage, modification, or distribution; WeatherNext's open Apache 2.0 terms enable unrestricted research and commercial deployment

Apache 2.0's **patent retaliation clause** is particularly valuable for AI projects like WeatherNext, where underlying techniques may involve proprietary innovations. Contributors who initiate patent litigation lose their license rights, deterring frivolous claims.

## Summary

- **WeatherNext uses Apache License 2.0**, as defined in the repository's `/LICENSE` file
- The license permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal obligations
- Compliance requires **retaining copyright notices** and **including the license text** with distributions
- Patent rights are explicitly granted to all users, a protection absent from simpler permissive licenses
- Add standard Apache headers to adapted code and specify license metadata in [`setup.py`](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main/setup.py) or [`pyproject.toml`](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main/pyproject.toml) files

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I use WeatherNext in a commercial product?

Yes. The **Apache License 2.0** explicitly permits commercial use without royalty payments or usage restrictions. You may integrate WeatherNext into proprietary products, provided you include the license and retain any copyright notices from the original source.

### Do I have to open-source my code if I modify WeatherNext?

No. Apache 2.0 is **not a copyleft license**. You can create proprietary derivative works based on WeatherNext without disclosing your source code. This distinguishes it from GPL-licensed alternatives that require sharing modifications under identical terms.

### Where is the WeatherNext license file located?

The complete license text resides at `/LICENSE` in the repository root. The [`README.md`](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main/README.md) file references these terms, and [`setup.py`](https://github.com/google-deepmind/weathernext/blob/main/setup.py) embeds license metadata for Python package distributions. All three files confirm the Apache 2.0 designation consistently.

### What happens if someone patents technology in WeatherNext?

Apache 2.0 includes a **patent grant** from all contributors to users. Anyone who contributes code to WeatherNext licenses related patents to all recipients. If a contributor later sues users for patent infringement, their license rights terminate automatically—protecting the community from patent trolling.