Detailed information about the licensing of the different projects of BIMserver.org can be found on our wiki. Downloading the source code of the BIMserver software is possible on download.bimserver.org and dev.bimserver.org.
The license is also available in the license.txt textfile in each subproject in the code repository. On this page some FAQs and additional information about the license usage and interpretation is given.
The license under which the BIMserver.org software is released is a combination of Affero GPL, GPLv3 and/or LGPL (for binaries) from the GNU project. The different projects in our SVN repository are diffently licensed. More info on that can be found on our wiki.
Use in commercial and/or closed source environments:
We get many questions about use of this software in a commercial environment. In short this software is perfectly usable in a commercial infrastructure. As a users you can use it in any project.
Many developers think the GPL like license holds them from using this software in closed source and/or commercial tools. This is not true. The BIMserver has a perfect open interface (API) to use. When your software tools interacts with BIMserver software through that API the license does not affect your work in any way. When you integrate BIMserver software with your own tool it is derivative work. A good way to check if you are interacting or integrating with BIMserver software is to run a BIMserver and your own tool in a separate process. When you are in doubt, its always smart to contact us (via license@bimserver.org). Our experience learns that some people that are scared about the license issues, don’t have to be because of our open API interface solution. We are happy to explain this to you.
Plugins, GUIs, ObjectIDMs and (de)Serializers:
BIMserver is an open framework that uses Plugins, GUIs (themes), ObjectIDMs and (de)Serializers. Derivatives of BIMserver.org code inherit the Affero and/or GPL license. There is some legal grey area regarding what is considered a derivative work, but we feel strongly that Plugins, Themes, ObjectIDMs and (de)Serializers are derivative work and thus inherit the Affero or GPL license. If you disagree, you might want to consider a different (open or closed source) project. We suggest some at http://osbim.org/projects/
The place where we share knowledge about derivate work is http://extend.bimserver.org. You can find more information there about available Plugins, Extensions, Themes, ObjectIDMs, and (de)Serializers.
THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MODIFIES AND/OR CONVEYS THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.