---
key: openssl-exception-gpl-2.0
short_name: OpenSSL exception to GPL 2.0
name: OpenSSL exception to GPL 2.0
category: Copyleft
owner: OpenSSL
homepage_url: http://www.openssl.org/source/license.html
notes: this is typically used with GPL 2.0 but sometimes seen with GPL 3.0
is_exception: yes
spdx_license_key: x11vnc-openssl-exception
other_spdx_license_keys:
    - LicenseRef-scancode-openssl-exception-gpl-2.0
text_urls:
    - http://www.openssl.org/source/license.html
    - http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt
faq_url: http://people.gnome.org/~markmc/openssl-and-the-gpl.html
other_urls:
    - https://github.com/LibVNC/x11vnc/blob/master/src/8to24.c#L22
standard_notice: |
    The OpenSSL License is not compatible with the GPL, since it contains the
    following two clauses:
    * 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this
    * software must display the following acknowledgment:
    * "This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project
    * for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit. (http://www.openssl.org/)"
    * 6. Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following
    * acknowledgment:
    * "This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project
    * for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/)"
    The OpenSSL Exception:
    * In addition, as a special exception, the copyright holders give
    * permission to link the code of portions of this program with the
    * OpenSSL library under certain conditions as described in each
    * individual source file, and distribute linked combinations
    * including the two.
    * You must obey the GNU General Public License in all respects
    * for all of the code used other than OpenSSL. If you modify
    * file(s) with this exception, you may extend this exception to your
    * version of the file(s), but you are not obligated to do so. If you
    * do not wish to do so, delete this exception statement from your
    * version. If you delete this exception statement from all source
    * files in the program, then also delete it here.
    The OpenSSL Exception Discussion:
    http://people.gnome.org/~markmc/openssl-and-the-gpl.html
---

The OpenSSL Exception:

In addition, as a special exception, the copyright holders give
permission to link the code of portions of this program with the
OpenSSL library under certain conditions as described in each
individual source file, and distribute linked combinations
including the two.
You must obey the GNU General Public License in all respects
for all of the code used other than OpenSSL.  If you modify
file(s) with this exception, you may extend this exception to your
version of the file(s), but you are not obligated to do so.  If you
do not wish to do so, delete this exception statement from your
version.  If you delete this exception statement from all source
files in the program, then also delete it here.