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License Agreement

doc/help/License-Agreement.md

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License Agreement

Serial Studio uses a dual-license model to balance open-source collaboration with commercial sustainability. This page explains both license types, what each permits, and where to find the full legal text.

Dual Licensing

GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3)

The GPLv3 governs the open-source portions of the Serial Studio codebase. It applies when all of the following conditions are met:

  • The build is compiled from source
  • No Pro modules are included
  • All linked dependencies (including Qt) are GPL-compatible

Under GPLv3, you may use, study, modify, and redistribute Serial Studio freely. However, any derivative work must also be released under GPLv3. No warranty is provided.

Full text: LICENSES/GPL-3.0-only.txt Reference: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html

Serial Studio Commercial License

The Commercial License governs all official pre-built binaries, builds that include Pro modules, and any commercial usage of Serial Studio. It is required for:

  • Commercial, institutional, or enterprise deployment
  • Redistribution of official builds
  • Access to Pro-gated features (MQTT, Modbus, CAN Bus, MDF4 export, 3D visualization, XY plotting, and the licensing subsystem)

A Commercial License is purchased per user/seat from https://serial-studio.com. It grants the right to use Serial Studio in proprietary projects without obligation to share your project's source code. Priority support is included.

Full text: LICENSES/LicenseRef-SerialStudio-Commercial.txt

Full License Agreement

The central legal document covering both license types is LICENSE.md in the project root. It details:

  • The dual-license structure and boundary definitions
  • Trial limitations and activation policy
  • Qt licensing requirements for redistribution
  • The Contributor License Agreement (CLA)
  • Trademark use and forking restrictions
  • Enforcement and DMCA policy

What You Can Do

  • Use the GPL version for personal, educational, and open-source projects
  • Modify and redistribute the source code under GPLv3 terms
  • Use the Pro version commercially with a valid Commercial License
  • Evaluate Pro features during the 14-day trial period
  • Contribute code under the terms of the CLA

What You Cannot Do

  • Use official binaries beyond the trial period without purchasing a license
  • Remove or circumvent license checks or activation mechanisms
  • Redistribute Pro binaries without written authorization
  • Include or link Pro modules in a GPL build
  • Use Pro features in commercial or enterprise settings without a Commercial License

Contributor License Agreement (CLA)

All contributors must sign a CLA before pull requests can be merged. The CLA:

  • Grants the maintainer rights to license your contributions under both GPLv3 and the Commercial License
  • Confirms you hold the legal rights to your contributions
  • Enables your code to be used in both open-source and proprietary builds

Feature Comparison

For a detailed breakdown of features available under each license tier, see Pro vs Free Features.

License Files

  • LICENSE.md — Full Dual-License Agreement
  • LICENSES/GPL-3.0-only.txt — GPLv3 License Text
  • LICENSES/LicenseRef-SerialStudio-Commercial.txt — Commercial License Terms

For commercial licensing or legal questions, contact [email protected].

See Also