What is the License for OpenHuman? GPL-3.0 Terms Explained

OpenHuman is released under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPL-3.0), a strong copyleft license that requires derivative works to be distributed under the same terms while guaranteeing freedom to modify and redistribute the source code.

OpenHuman, developed by Tiny Humans AI and hosted at tinyhumansai/openhuman, is an AI assistant framework designed for communities. Understanding the OpenHuman license is essential for contributors and users who want to integrate this technology while respecting the legal obligations of open-source software distribution.

GPL-3.0: The Official OpenHuman License

According to the source code repository, OpenHuman is explicitly licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0. The full legal text resides in the repository's LICENSE file at the root directory, while the project's README.md provides high-level documentation referencing these terms.

The Rust package manifest in Cargo.toml confirms this designation with the SPDX identifier:

license = "GPL-3.0"

This metadata allows package registries like crates.io to automatically surface licensing information, ensuring transparency for developers managing dependencies.

Where the OpenHuman License is Declared

Several key files within the tinyhumansai/openhuman repository establish and reinforce the GPL-3.0 terms:

• LICENSE – Contains the complete GPL-3.0 legal text that governs the project's distribution and modification.
• Cargo.toml – The Rust crate manifest declaring license = "GPL-3.0" for automated tooling and package managers.
• README.md – Primary documentation that cites the license and guides contributors on their obligations.
• AGENTS.md – Architecture documentation confirming that core agent components fall under GPL-3.0 coverage.
• SECURITY.md – Security policy documents that reference the licensing terms applicable to the codebase.

Key Obligations of the GPL-3.0 License

Using or distributing OpenHuman imposes specific legal requirements inherent to strong copyleft licenses:

• Copyleft Provision – Any derivative work or distribution of OpenHuman must itself be licensed under GPL-3.0. This ensures that improvements and modifications remain open source.
• Source Availability – When distributing binaries or compiled versions, you must provide the complete corresponding source code or a written offer valid for three years to provide that source.
• Modification Freedom – You may freely modify, redistribute, and use the software for any purpose, provided you preserve copyright notices and license declarations.

These requirements protect user rights while ensuring the ecosystem remains transparent and accessible.

Practical License Attribution Examples

When building upon OpenHuman, proper attribution maintains compliance and acknowledges the original authors' contributions.

Adding License Headers to Rust Source Files

New Rust modules should include a standard GPL-3.0 header to clearly mark the file's licensing terms:

//! OpenHuman – AI assistant for communities
//!
//! Copyright (C) 2024 Tiny Humans AI
//!
//! This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
//! it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
//! the Free Software Foundation, version 3.

Querying License Metadata Programmatically

You can verify the OpenHuman license programmatically using Cargo's metadata command, useful for compliance auditing tools:

cargo metadata --format-version=1 | jq '.packages[] | select(.name == "openhuman") | .license'

# => "GPL-3.0"

Displaying License Information in User Interfaces

For applications built atop OpenHuman that require in-app license disclosure, you can fetch and display the GPL-3.0 text dynamically:

import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';

export const LicenseInfo = () => {
  const [license, setLicense] = useState<string>('');

  useEffect(() => {
    // Fetch the plain text license from the repository at runtime
    fetch('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tinyhumansai/openhuman/main/LICENSE')
      .then(r => r.text())
      .then(text => setLicense(text));
  }, []);

  return (
    <section className="license-section">
      <h2>License</h2>
      <pre>{license}</pre>
      <p>
        OpenHuman is licensed under{' '}
        <Link to="https://github.com/tinyhumansai/openhuman/blob/main/LICENSE">
          GNU GPL‑3.0
        </Link>
        .
      </p>
    </section>
  );
};

Summary

OpenHuman operates under the GNU General Public License version 3.0, ensuring a transparent, copyleft development model:

• The LICENSE file contains the full GPL-3.0 text, while Cargo.toml identifies the license as GPL-3.0.
• Derivative works must adopt the same GPL-3.0 terms, preserving open-source availability.
• Contributors must maintain copyright headers and provide source code when distributing binaries.
• The license is referenced across documentation files including AGENTS.md and SECURITY.md.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OpenHuman completely free to use?

Yes, OpenHuman is free software in both cost and liberty. Under GPL-3.0, you can use, study, modify, and distribute the software without licensing fees. However, the copyleft nature requires that any distributed modifications or derivative works also be released under GPL-3.0, ensuring the community maintains access to improvements.

Can I use OpenHuman code in a commercial proprietary product?

No, not without converting your entire product to GPL-3.0. The GPL-3.0 license is a strong copyleft license, meaning if you incorporate OpenHuman code into your application and distribute it to others, you must release your entire application's source code under GPL-3.0. This applies whether you distribute binaries or provide the software as a service.

What are my obligations if I modify the OpenHuman source code?

If you modify OpenHuman and distribute the modified version (whether as source or binary), you must:

1. License your modifications under GPL-3.0.
2. Include the original copyright notices and license text.
3. Provide the complete corresponding source code to recipients, or a written offer valid for three years to provide the source upon request.

Where can I read the exact legal terms of the OpenHuman license?

The complete legal text is available in the LICENSE file at the root of the tinyhumansai/openhuman repository. You can view it directly on GitHub at https://github.com/tinyhumansai/openhuman/blob/main/LICENSE or fetch it programmatically via the raw GitHub content URL for integration into documentation tools.

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