Software License Compatibility Checker
Check whether code under one licence can be used in a project under another, for commercial, SaaS, proprietary, modification and distribution scenarios. Free, no registration.
Using LGPL-3.0-licensed code in a project under MIT
Compatible With Conditions
Using LGPL-3.0-licensed code in a project under MIT is generally possible if the listed conditions are met.
Confidence: medium
Compatibility is directional: using License A code in a License B project is a different question from using License B code in a License A project. Check the reverse direction.
Commercial Use
No issueLGPL-3.0 permits commercial use. Commercial use, including selling copies, is allowed; the copyleft conditions still apply to how the code is distributed.
Modification
No issueThe scenario does not include modifying the component. Modification under LGPL-3.0: permitted.
Distribution
No issueLGPL-3.0 permits distribution subject to its copyleft conditions.
Source Disclosure
ConditionsAn application that uses an LGPL-3.0 library may be distributed under its own terms, including proprietary terms, when section 4 is met: typically by using the library as a replaceable shared library, giving notice of its use, and including the licence.
Attribution
ObligationsLGPL-3.0 requires the copyright and licence notices to be kept with copies you distribute.
Patent Considerations
No issueLGPL-3.0 includes an express patent licence from contributors. That patent licence terminates for anyone who initiates patent litigation alleging that the work infringes a patent.
Copyleft
ConditionsAn application that uses an LGPL-3.0 library may be distributed under its own terms, including proprietary terms, when section 4 is met: typically by using the library as a replaceable shared library, giving notice of its use, and including the licence.
SaaS / Network Use
No issueThe scenario does not include offering the software over a network. LGPL-3.0 has no network-use clause.
Proprietary Use
ConditionsAn application that uses an LGPL-3.0 library may be distributed under its own terms, including proprietary terms, when section 4 is met: typically by using the library as a replaceable shared library, giving notice of its use, and including the licence.
Why?
- An application that uses an LGPL-3.0 library may be distributed under its own terms, including proprietary terms, when section 4 is met: typically by using the library as a replaceable shared library, giving notice of its use, and including the licence.
- LGPL-3.0 permits commercial use. Commercial use, including selling copies, is allowed; the copyleft conditions still apply to how the code is distributed.
- When the obligation applies, LGPL-3.0 requires making available the library and your modifications to it.
- LGPL-3.0 requires the copyright and licence notices to be kept with copies you distribute.
- LGPL-3.0 permits distribution subject to its copyleft conditions.
- LGPL-3.0 includes an express patent licence from contributors. That patent licence terminates for anyone who initiates patent litigation alleging that the work infringes a patent.
What do I need to do?
- Include the LGPL-3.0 licence text and the GPL-3.0 text and a notice that the library is used.
- Allow users to replace the library with a modified version (e.g. dynamic linking).
- Provide the source of the LGPL-3.0 library you distribute.
- Include the LGPL-3.0 copyright notice and licence text with the distributed software (source, binary documentation or an "open-source notices" screen).
- Confirm whether the library is linked dynamically, statically, or copied into your source; the conditions differ.
Risks
- Initiating patent litigation over the LGPL-3.0 work ends your patent licence for it.
Authoritative Sources
Rules applied
LGPL_LIBRARY_LINKING (CONDITION), LGPL_COMMERCIAL_USE (INFO), LGPL_SOURCE_DISCLOSURE (INFO), LGPL_ATTRIBUTION (INFO), LGPL_DISTRIBUTION (INFO), LGPL_PATENT_NOTICE (INFO)
This tool provides general software licensing information and is not legal advice. License obligations may depend on how software components are combined, modified, distributed and used.
How the checker works
Results come from a deterministic rule engine, not from AI. Each supported licence is described by structured facts taken from SPDX, the Open Source Initiative, the GNU Project and the licence stewards: copyleft strength, source-disclosure scope, attribution, patent and network-use terms. Rules combine those facts with your scenario, and every rule that fires is listed with its identifier.
Compatibility is directional. Using MIT code in a GPL-3.0 project is generally fine, but using GPL-3.0 code in an MIT project means the distributed result must be licensed under GPL-3.0. License A is always the code you want to use; License B is the project it goes into.
Commercial use is not the same as proprietary use. Almost every open-source licence allows commercial use; the question that usually matters is whether you can keep your own source code closed when you distribute or host the result.
The engine is open source: @esdecode/license-checker on GitHub, including every rule and its tests.
What the results mean
- Generally Compatible
- The licence terms generally allow this use; notice obligations may still apply.
- Compatible With Conditions
- The use is generally possible if specific conditions are met, such as providing source code or allowing relinking.
- Potential Conflict
- A conflict is plausible depending on how the code is combined, distributed or licensed.
- Likely Incompatible
- The licence terms, as generally understood, do not permit this combination.
- Manual Review Required
- The terms are proprietary, custom or product-specific and must be read individually.
- Unknown
- A licence could not be identified, so no conclusion is drawn.