# Copyright and licensing guidance for open-source code

DevFeed: [Copyright and licensing guidance for open-source code](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/why-you-should-care-about-copyright-28649.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://jeroenmols.com/blog/2016/08/03/copyright/>)

Author: info@jeroenmols.com (Jeroen Mols)

Published: 2016-08-03T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Jeroen Mols](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/jeroen-mols.md>)

Topics: [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software.md>), [GitHub](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/github.md>)

Tags: [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [blogs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blogs.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [copyright](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/copyright.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [github](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/github.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [tools](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tools.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains that software is generally protected by copyright when created and that a license grants others permission to use code under stated conditions. It recommends distributing an explicit license with open-source repositories and adding copyright notices to files.

## Source excerpt

As die hard Android developers, copyright notices are usually not on top of our priority list. Yet large corporations always insist to add a copyright header.