What Is the License for the Open-Notebook Repository? MIT License Explained

The open-notebook repository is released under the MIT License, a permissive open-source license that allows free use, modification, and distribution provided the original copyright notice and license terms are preserved.

The lfnovo/open-notebook project is a privacy-first, multi-modal AI research assistant that uses the MIT License to maintain maximum flexibility for developers and researchers. This licensing choice reflects the project's commitment to open collaboration while protecting the original author, Luis Novo. Whether you are deploying the full stack or integrating components into your own applications, understanding the open-notebook repository license is essential for compliance.

Understanding the MIT License Terms

The MIT License governing the open-notebook repository is one of the most permissive licenses in the open-source ecosystem. Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Novo, this license grants broad permissions with minimal restrictions, making it ideal for both academic and commercial applications.

Permissions and Requirements

According to the full license text in the repository's LICENSE file, the MIT License explicitly permits anyone to:

• Use the software for any purpose, including commercial applications
• Copy and distribute the codebase
• Modify and create derivative works
• Merge with other projects
• Publish and sublicense the software
• Sell copies of the software

The sole requirement is that the original copyright notice and permission notice must be included in all copies or substantial portions of the software. This means any distribution of open-notebook code—whether modified or unmodified—must retain the attribution to Luis Novo and the MIT License text.

Where to Find the Full License Text

You can view the complete license terms in the root directory of the repository at LICENSE. This file contains the standard MIT License template with the specific copyright holder information for this project.

Repository Structure and Key Components

The open-notebook repository is organized into distinct architectural layers, all covered under the same MIT License. When working with the codebase, you will encounter these critical components:

• LICENSE – The full MIT license text and copyright notice
• README.md – Project overview and quick-start documentation
• api/main.py – FastAPI application entry point serving REST endpoints
• open_notebook/graphs/source.py – LangGraph workflow for source ingestion
• open_notebook/database/repository.py – Async SurrealDB repository utilities

All source files within these directories—including the Next.js 16 frontend, FastAPI 0.104+ backend, and SurrealDB database layers—fall under the same licensing terms. The architecture documentation in docs/7-DEVELOPMENT/architecture.md and configuration guides in CONFIGURATION.md are similarly licensed.

Compliance for Contributors

When contributing new code to the open-notebook repository, you should include the standard MIT License header to ensure compliance with the project's licensing terms. Here is the proper format for new Python files:

# 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.

#

# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR

# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,

# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT...

# Your module code starts here

This header ensures that distributed copies of your contributions maintain the legal protections and permissions established by the original open-notebook repository license.

Summary

• The open-notebook repository uses the MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Novo
• This permissive license allows unrestricted use, modification, distribution, and sublicensing, including commercial use
• The full license text resides in the LICENSE file at the repository root
• All architectural components—from the Next.js frontend to the FastAPI backend and SurrealDB database layer—are covered under identical terms
• Contributors must preserve copyright notices and license text when distributing the code or creating derivative works

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use open-notebook for commercial projects?

Yes. The MIT License explicitly permits commercial use. You can use, modify, and distribute the open-notebook code—including the FastAPI backend (api/main.py), ingestion workflows (open_notebook/graphs/source.py), and frontend components—in commercial applications without paying royalties or seeking additional permission, provided you include the original copyright notice and license text.

Do I need to open-source my modifications if I build on open-notebook?

No. The MIT License does not require you to distribute your source code or use the same license for derivative works. You can modify the codebase—for example, customizing the vector search in api/search_service.py or adapting the SurrealDB repository patterns—and keep your changes private or proprietary. However, you must still include the original MIT License and copyright notice when distributing the software.

Where is the copyright notice in the open-notebook repository?

The copyright notice is located in the LICENSE file at the root of the repository, which states "Copyright (c) 2024 Luis Novo". This file also contains the complete permission notice required by the MIT License. When redistributing the code or substantial portions thereof, you must preserve this notice exactly as it appears in the original file.

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