THE PAY IT FORWARD LICENSE

An open-source license for innovation, creativity and flexibility, empowering developers, companies, and communities to thrive by fostering a global movement of knowledge-sharing, ethical technology development, and contributions to the greater awesomeness.

The License

Pay It Forward License (PIF)

Copyright (c) [Year] [Copyright Holder]

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 license includes a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable (except as stated below) grant for patent claims necessarily infringed by the use of the Software or any contributions submitted to it; terminating automatically when an entity initiates patent litigation (including a cross-claim or counterclaim) alleging that the Software or any portion thereof infringes a patent.

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 non-infringement. In no event shall the authors or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages, or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort, or otherwise, arising from, out of, or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.

Recipients of the Software should pay it forward by contributing to the open-source community through actions including but not limited to providing code, documentation, tutorials, guides, support, feedback, or promoting open-source projects through advocacy or related efforts that advance innovation and community growth.

Download

What is the PIF?

The Pay It Forward License (PIF) is a modern open-source license tailored for developers, companies, and communities looking to innovate while giving back. Inspired by the simplicity of the MIT License and the robust protections of Apache 2.0, PIF prioritizes flexibility and collaboration.

Why It Matters:

The open-source ecosystem thrives when knowledge, resources, and tools are shared freely. The PIF encourages responsible innovation, inspiring users to “pay it forward” by supporting the projects they benefit from and contributing to the broader open-source community.

About the PIF

Key Features of the Pay It Forward License

Encouragement Without Obligation

The PIF promotes contributions to the community, but it does not impose any mandatory requirements to the original project or otherwise.

Unrestricted Use

• Supports commercial use.
• Allows modifications, including proprietary derivatives.

Built-in Patent Protection

Offers a perpetual patent grant to protect users from litigation while discouraging patent misuse.

Minimal Attribution Requirements

Keeps attribution simple and low-maintenance, modeled on the MIT License.

Focus on Innovation and Growth

Encourages recipients to advance innovation, foster collaboration, and support community growth.

Why Use the Pay It Forward License?

Perfect for Developers:

• Maintain full control over projects without restrictive obligations.
• Be part of an open-source movement that values innovation and collaboration.

Ideal for Companies:

• Build on open-source software with confidence, including for commercial purposes.
• Avoid unnecessary legal risks with clear patent protections and attribution guidelines.

Empowering Communities:

• Create a ripple effect of contributions and improvements in the open-source ecosystem.
• Inspire others to contribute back through mentorship, education, or financial support.

How to Use the PIF in Your Project

Adding the PIF to your project is simple:

1. Copy the license text and include it in your project repository (e.g., in a LICENSE file).
2. Add a copyright notice to your project, specifying the year and your name or organization.
3. Read more on Adding a license to a GitHub repository.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the PIF different from other licenses?

The PIF combines the permissiveness of the MIT License with the robust patent protections of Apache 2.0 while uniquely encouraging, but not requiring, community contributions.

Can I use the PIF for commercial projects?

Yes, the PIF fully supports commercial use, including proprietary derivatives.

What does ‘paying it forward’ mean?

“Paying it forward” refers to voluntarily supporting the open-source ecosystem through contributions such as code, documentation, mentorship, or financial backing.

Join the Movement

Adopt the Pay It Forward License for your projects and become part of a growing community committed to innovation and collaboration. Join the GitHub Discussion.

Support the Pay It Forward Initiative

Buy some swag and show your support to the PIF. Visit the Pay it Forward Shop.