Community Portal Featured Blogs
Static
Joomla! License FAQs
What license does Joomla use?
The GNU General Public License Version 2 or later. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Within the context of this FAQ, "GNU GPL" and "GPL" refer to the GNU General Public License Version 2.
What is the difference between the GPL and the LGPL?
The GNU GPL is intended to be used for applications whereas the GNU LGPL is intended to be used for application libraries. The Joomla Content Management System is an entire application that utilizes a multitude of libraries, both GPL and LGPL (as well as with other GPL compatible licenses), and thus is licensed under the GPL license.
Where can I read more about the license?
The GNU General Public License: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
The GNU GPL Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html
The philosophy behind the GNU: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/
What is the definition of Open Source/Free Software?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software
What is meant by "voluntary compliance?"
We want all parties to come into compliance with our license, as it strengthens our ability to defend and protect Joomla. We do not have the will nor the means to go after everyone who violates our license nor do we intend to. We are asking the community to voluntarily comply with the GPL.
What is the difference between "commercial" and "proprietary"?
Commercial software means that there is some sort of commercial activity surrounding that software. It could be a business that develops it and charges money for distribution, support, documentation, customization, etc. Commercial software is not necessarily proprietary software and proprietary software is not necessarily commercial software. Proprietary software means that you do not have the right to copy, modify, and redistribute that software.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_software
Does the license allow someone to sell a copy of Joomla?
Yes. The Preamble of the GNU GPL states "when we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things."
Also see: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney
Can I remove the Joomla Copyright notice in the footer region (and other related questions)?
Yes, you can remove the Joomla copyright notices from any part of the output that the Joomla application generates. You may not remove the copyright notice from the source code itself.
Can I remove the Joomla Copyright notice in the Meta information of a Joomla website?
Yes, you can remove the copyright notices from any part of the output that the Joomla application generates. You may not remove the copyright notice from the source code itself.
What should I do if I find a possible violation of the GPL?
You should report the possible violation to the appropriate copyright holders. If you believe someone is violating the GPL license of the people who develop the Joomla project please report the violation in our Trademark Contact Center using the appropriate ticket for violations.
Extensions
Does the license allow someone to sell an extension?
Yes. The Preamble of the GNU GPL states "when we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things."
Also see: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney
Does the license allow someone to encrypt an extension?
Yes, technically, but the distributor must provide access to the complete and unencrypted source code by either including it in the package or by making it available for download. The distributor must provide access "for a charge no more than [their] cost of physically performing source distribution."
Can I release an extension under a non-GPL licence?
It is our opinion that most extensions are derivative works of Joomla and must be licensed under the GNU GPL. It is possible that an extension could work within Joomla and not be considered a derivative work according to copyright law but this would have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you believe your extension is not a derivative work we strongly recommend that you seek professional legal advice.
How does the treatment of templates differ from the treatment of components, modules, and plugins?
In our opinion, templates are composite packages that consist of both code elements and non-code elements. We believe that the code elements of a template must be licensed under the GNU GPL because they are derivative works. However, the non-code elements are just data acted upon by the software and may be licensed in any way the author sees fit. The non-code elements include elements like Images, Movies, Animations, CSS and formatting markup.
Please see: The GPL & The JED under Special Cases for more information
What is the difference between a bridge to another package and an extension?
A bridge links Joomla to an external application so that they can exchange data and cooperate. On the Joomla side of the bridge, the bridge is treated just like a component, module, or plugin; it must comply with the GPL unless it is a separate work (and some bridges might indeed be separate works).
If the external application is separate enough from Joomla that it is a separate work under copyright law, it may be licensed under whatever license the holder of its copyright sees fit.
Does the CSS in my template need to be licensed under the GPL?
Not unless it is based on work that is licensed under the GNU GPL. See GPL & JED [Special Cases].
Does JavaScript included in templates and extensions need to be licensed under the GPL?
Not unless it is based on work that is licensed under the GNU GPL. See GPL & JED [Special Cases].
If I include a module in a template, does it need to be under the GPL license?
Generally, yes. See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLModuleLicense
I purchased a copy of an extension that violates the Joomla licence. Can I now distribute it under the GPL?
No. You should report the violation to the appropriate copyright holders.
Can I offer a hosted service with my custom, proprietary extensions?
Yes. The GNU GPL does not apply until you attempt to distribute your custom extensions to an outside party. If you decide to distribute your extensions, they will need to be licensed under the GNU GPL.
Can I release an extension under a GPL Compatible license?
Joomla or a Joomla extension may incorporate a building block that has a compatible license because the building block can be effectively relicensed as GPL for purposes of the application (without of course changing the license for other applications using the same library). That is because those licenses are less restrictive and the Joomla application adds the GPL restrictions for any use of those libraries within the Joomla application. As the FSF explains on its website
All GNU GPL versions permit such combinations privately; they also permit distribution of such combinations provided the combination is released under the same GNU GPL version. The other license is compatible with the GPL if it permits this too.
Extensions extend and derive from Joomla and Joomla is GNU GPL. Therefore extensions cannot be licensed with a less restrictive license. They can't give their users and subsequent users fewer rights than they would have under the GPL. GPL compatible licenses do not guarantee that subsequent users will be given the same rights as current users. Therefore their use in work derived from Joomla violates the terms under which the copyright holders have licensed their code, which are the terms of the GNU GPL.
For more than two years the Joomla Project has clearly stated that in its view and the views of the legal experts we have consulted extensions are almost always derivative works for Joomla and must therefore be licensed using the GNU GPL.
See the following for useful commentary:
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html
https://wordpress.org/news/2009/07/themes-are-gpl-too/
What is the Joomla Academy?
The Joomla Academy is a global program that aims to bring new contributors and improved features to Joomla by providing mentored coaching and teaching for students with PHP, JavaScript, UX, and UI skills. This initiative, managed by Open Source Matters (OSM), creates a pathway for students to learn about open-source development while contributing meaningful code to the Joomla ecosystem.
About the Joomla Academy
Building on the success of previous Google Summer of Code (GSoC) and Summer of Code (SOC) collaborations, the Joomla Academy takes control of our own educational initiatives. The Academy aligns with Joomla's release cycle to ensure student contributions make it into production.
Program Structure
- Two intakes per year: April and October
- Six-month development terms
- $3,000 stipend per student
- Comprehensive mentorship and training
- Alignment with Joomla's release schedule
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the Joomla Academy, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of application
- Not be from a US-embargoed country (see note below)
- Be able to commit to 6 months of development work
- Possess basic programming knowledge in PHP, JavaScript, and/or UI/UX design
- Have a passion for open-source development
Note on US Embargoes: As Open Source Matters is a US-based organization, we must comply with US trade restrictions. Currently, comprehensive sanctions are in place for countries such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region of Ukraine. The specific details and list of countries may change over time.
Related Articles
Google Summer of Code Articles on Joomla Community Magazine
17 Reasons to Love Joomla! Prize Draw Competition Terms and Conditions.
Joomla Celebrates its 17th Birthday on 17th August 2022
1. Introduction
1.1 These rules apply to all ‘17 Reasons to Love Joomla’ Promotion Prize Draws that are promoted on the following Joomla Social Media Channels.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joomla
Twitter - https://twitter.com/joomla
Instagram - https://www.linkedin.com/company/joomla/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/joomla/
From August 1st through to August 17th inclusive Joomla will post daily on each of the social media channels listed above. Each day and each channel present an individual Prize Draw. Each day one winner will be picked at random from each channel, the winner will receive a limited-edition Joomla branded Travel Mug
1.2 To enter the prize draw you must like and comment/reply either ‘I Love Joomla’ or ‘Happy Birthday’ as specified on the original social media post on the day of posting.
1.3 This prize draw is completely free to enter.
2. Eligibility and entry restrictions
2.1 To be eligible to enter a competition:
(a) you must be a natural person and at least 18 years old.
(b) you must not be a Joomla Volunteer or involved in the running of the promotion, and you must not be a family relation of any such person.
2.2 The maximum number of entries to each individual prize draw per person is one. Multiple entries on a single channel in a single day will not be accepted.
2.3 You must not create multiple social media accounts to enter a prize draw more than once. Anyone found to use multiples accounts to enter this promotion will be ineligible.
2.4 Eligible entries must comment on the original Joomla. Likes and comments on a shared post will not be eligible as we will not have access to those entries.
3. Start and closing dates
3.1 The promotion will start on August 1st, 2022, when the first post and prize draw is published and close on August 17th, 2022, at midnight, after the final post and prize draw is published. These times and dates are the relevant times and dates in London, England.
4. Winner Selection
4.1 Winners will be picked at random.
4.2 The panel of competition judges shall include at least one independent judge, whose name shall be made available upon request.
4.3 If a competition entrant does not meet the eligibility requirements or is subject to any entry restrictions, that entrant shall not be entitled to be judged a winner and will not be entitled to a prize in any circumstances.
5. Winners and prizes
5.1 Competition prizes will be a Limited-edition Joomla Branded Travel Mug. Each day and for each channel one prize will be awarded resulting in the total number of prizes awarded being 68.
5.2 Competition winners will be notified via direct message on the social media channel they entered with, not more than 30 days following the closing date of the competition and will receive their prizes not more than 60 days following that closing date. Winners will need to provide their name and email address when contacted for Joomla to send their prize.
5.3 The results of the prize draw will be announced on our website within 30 days following the closing date of the competition. The announcement will only include the surname, country of residence and prize details of each prize winner.
5.4 There shall be no cash alternatives to any prize.
6. Our details
6.1 This prize competition is run by The Joomla Marketing Team
6.2 You can contact us via the website: https://community.joomla.org/
JDay USA Tickets 2024 competition terms and conditions
For JDAY USA 2024. We’re giving away 6 virtual tickets and 2 in-person tickets thanks to the JDAY USA organization.
1. Introduction
1.1 These rules apply to all ‘JDAY USA Tickets 2024’ Promotion Prize Draws that are promoted on the following Joomla Social Media Channels.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joomla
Twitter - https://twitter.com/joomla
Instagram - https://www.linkedin.com/company/joomla/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/joomla/
From March 27th through to April 1st inclusive Joomla will post daily on each of the social media channels listed above.
1.2 To enter the prize draw you must like and comment/reply either ‘JDay USA Virtual’ or ‘JDay USA In-Person’ as specified on the original social media post on the day of posting.
1.3 This prize draw is completely free to enter.
2. Eligibility and entry restrictions
2.1 To be eligible to enter a competition:
(a) you must be a natural person and at least 18 years old.
2.2 The maximum number of entries to each individual prize draw per person is one. Multiple entries on a single channel will not be accepted.
2.3 You must not create multiple social media accounts to enter a prize draw more than once. Anyone found to use multiple accounts to enter this promotion will be ineligible.
2.4 Eligible entries must comment on the original Joomla post. Likes and comments on a shared post will not be eligible as we will not have access to those entries.
3. Start and closing dates
3.1 The promotion will start on March 27th, 2024, when the first post and prize draw is published and close on April 1st, 2024, at 6PM UTC..
4. Winner Selection
4.1 Winners will be picked at random.
4.2 The panel of competition judges shall include at least one independent judge, whose name shall be made available upon request.
4.3 If a competition entrant does not meet the eligibility requirements or is subject to any entry restrictions, that entrant shall not be entitled to be judged a winner and will not be entitled to a prize in any circumstances.
5. Winners and prizes
5.1 Competition prizes will be one ticket to JDAY USA 2024, either virtual or in-person. Depending on what you commented in the post..
5.2 Competition winners will be notified via direct message on the social media channel they entered with, not more than 3 days following the closing date of the competition. Winners will need to provide their name and email address when contacted for Joomla to send their prize.
5.3 The results of the prize draw will be announced on our website within 10 days following the closing date of the competition. The announcement will only include the surname, country of residence and prize details of each prize winner.
5.4 There shall be no cash alternatives to any prize.
6. Our details
6.1 This prize competition is run by The Joomla Marketing Team
6.2 You can contact us via the website: https://community.joomla.org/
Joomla! is proud to present to you a series of Joomla! video courses. Here you can learn everything from the basics to more advanced subjects such as creating a multilingual web site and keeping your site up to date and secure.