# Open Notebook License: MIT License Terms and Usage Rights > Understand the Open Notebook License MIT terms. Learn about usage rights, modification, distribution, and commercial use for this permissive open-source license. - Repository: [Luis Novo/open-notebook](https://github.com/lfnovo/open-notebook) - Tags: api-reference - Published: 2026-07-03 --- **Open Notebook is distributed under the MIT License, a permissive open-source license that grants users the right to use, modify, distribute, and sublicense the software for any purpose, including commercial applications, provided the original copyright notice is preserved.** Open Notebook, hosted at `lfnovo/open-notebook`, is an open-source notebook application that leverages the MIT License to maximize developer freedom. Understanding the licensing information for Open Notebook is crucial for organizations integrating the codebase into proprietary tools or developers planning to contribute to the project. The license imposes minimal restrictions, requiring only attribution while permitting extensive reuse. ## Understanding the Open Notebook MIT License The `LICENSE` file in the repository root contains the full MIT License text applicable to the entire project. This permissive license allows you to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies of Open Notebook without restriction. As implemented in `lfnovo/open-notebook`, the MIT License protects the copyright holder—Luis Novo—while granting users broad freedoms. The only substantive requirement is the inclusion of the original copyright notice and permission notice in all copies or substantial portions of the software. ## Key Permissions and Requirements The Open Notebook license provides the following specific rights: - **Free use:** Run the software for any purpose without fees or royalties. - **Modification:** Adapt the code to suit your specific requirements or fork the repository for independent development. - **Distribution:** Share the original or modified versions through any channel, including commercial distribution platforms. - **Sublicensing:** Grant rights to third parties to use the software under the same terms. - **Private use:** Modify and use the software internally without obligation to disclose changes. The license carries two critical limitations. First, **attribution is mandatory**—you must retain the copyright notice and license text in all distributions. Second, the software is provided **"as is"** without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose. ## Locating Open Notebook Licensing Information You can verify the licensing terms by examining these specific files in the repository: - **`LICENSE`** – Contains the complete MIT License text and copyright attribution, located at the repository root. - **[`README.md`](https://github.com/lfnovo/open-notebook/blob/main/README.md)** – Provides project documentation and references the licensing terms. - **[`pyproject.toml`](https://github.com/lfnovo/open-notebook/blob/main/pyproject.toml)** – Stores project metadata including license classifiers and build configuration. The canonical license text is available at `https://github.com/lfnovo/open-notebook/blob/main/LICENSE`. ## Compliance: Adding License Headers to Derivative Works When creating new files based on Open Notebook code, include the standard MIT license header to ensure compliance. The copyright holder for the project is Luis Novo (2024). ```python # MIT License # Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Novo # # 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. ``` This header format satisfies the Open Notebook license attribution requirements while clearly communicating the terms to downstream users. ## Summary - Open Notebook is released under the **MIT License**, a highly permissive open-source license. - Users may **freely modify, distribute, and sublicense** the code for commercial or non-commercial purposes. - The only requirement is **preservation of the copyright notice** and license text in all distributions. - The official license text resides in the **`LICENSE`** file at the repository root. - The software is provided without warranty, as explicitly stated in the license terms. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Open Notebook free for commercial use? Yes. The MIT License explicitly permits commercial use, including selling the software or incorporating it into proprietary products. You can deploy Open Notebook in production environments or distribute it as part of paid services without licensing fees or revenue sharing requirements. ### What are the attribution requirements for Open Notebook? You must include the original copyright notice and permission notice in all copies or substantial portions of the software. This means preserving the `LICENSE` file in your distribution or including the license header in source files derived from the project. The notice must identify Luis Novo as the copyright holder. ### Does the MIT License cover documentation and media files? The MIT License specifically covers the software and associated documentation files. While the primary codebase in Open Notebook falls under this license, you should verify individual file headers for any components that may carry different licensing terms, such as third-party assets or separate documentation modules. ### Can I modify Open Notebook without contributing changes back? Yes. The MIT License does not impose copyleft requirements. You can modify the code for private use or distribute your modified version without sharing source code. However, if you distribute binaries or source code, you must still include the original MIT License and copyright notice, and you cannot remove the original author's attribution.