Eclipse Public License 2.0 (EPL-2.0)
Module-level copyleft. GPL-incompatible BY DEFAULT (the EPL-2.0 secondary-license option can be set to GPL by the original author, but assume incompatible unless explicitly designated).
Key facts
- SPDX id
- EPL-2.0
- Category
- Weak copyleft
- Copyleft scope
- module
- Express patent grant
- Yes
- SaaS triggers disclosure
- No
- GPL-compatible
- No (by default) — incompatible unless the author designated GPL as a secondary license.
Obligations
When redistributing as open source.
- EPL-2.0: retain the copyright notice and license text.
- EPL-2.0: state significant changes made to the code.
- EPL-2.0: disclose the source of modified EPL-2.0 modules.
- EPL-2.0: modified EPL-2.0 modules must remain under EPL-2.0.
Internal use only (never distributed)
- EPL-2.0: retain the copyright notice and license text.
- EPL-2.0: state significant changes made to the code.
Public SaaS / hosted web service
- EPL-2.0: retain the copyright notice and license text.
- EPL-2.0: state significant changes made to the code.
Commercial use
Yes. Copyleft is scoped to modified EPL-2.0 modules — your own modules can stay proprietary. Disclose modified modules when you distribute.
- EPL-2.0: retain the copyright notice and license text.
- EPL-2.0: state significant changes made to the code.
- EPL-2.0: disclose the source of modified EPL-2.0 modules.
- EPL-2.0: modified EPL-2.0 modules must remain under EPL-2.0.
Permissive: include notices (Apache also needs NOTICE + change statements). Weak copyleft: disclose only the modified library/files and, for LGPL static linking, provide a relink path. Strong copyleft (GPL): NOT possible to keep proprietary if GPL code is in the derivative work. AGPL: same as GPL plus network rules.
FAQ
- Can I use EPL-2.0 in a commercial product?
- Yes. Copyleft is scoped to modified EPL-2.0 modules — your own modules can stay proprietary. Disclose modified modules when you distribute.
- Do I have to open-source my code if I use EPL-2.0?
- Only modified EPL-2.0 modules, and only when you distribute. Your own modules are not affected.
- Does running EPL-2.0 software as a SaaS require source disclosure?
- No. Hosting is not distribution under EPL-2.0; running it as a service does not trigger source disclosure.
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with the GPL?
- No (by default) — incompatible unless the author designated GPL as a secondary license.
Compatibility with other licenses
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with MIT? Yes
- Is BSD-2-Clause compatible with EPL-2.0? Yes
- Is BSD-3-Clause compatible with EPL-2.0? Yes
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with ISC? Yes
- Is Apache-2.0 compatible with EPL-2.0? Yes
- Is BSL-1.0 compatible with EPL-2.0? Yes
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with Unlicense? Yes
- Is CC0-1.0 compatible with EPL-2.0? Yes
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with MPL-2.0? It depends
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with LGPL-2.1? It depends
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with LGPL-3.0? It depends
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with GPL-2.0-only? No
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with GPL-2.0-or-later? It depends
- Is EPL-2.0 compatible with GPL-3.0-only? No
- Is AGPL-3.0 compatible with EPL-2.0? No