What Open-Source License Governs libvorbis?

This article provides a clear overview of the open-source license governing the libvorbis library, explaining its terms, requirements, and implications for developers who wish to integrate this audio compression technology into their software projects.

The libvorbis library, which is the reference implementation of the Vorbis audio compression format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation, is governed by the 3-Clause BSD License (also known as the “Modified BSD License” or “New BSD License”).

This is a highly permissive open-source license that allows developers broad freedom. Under the terms of the 3-Clause BSD License, you are permitted to use, modify, and distribute the libvorbis source code and binaries in both open-source and proprietary (commercial) applications, free of charge.

To comply with the license, you must adhere to three basic conditions: 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the original copyright notice, the list of conditions, and the provided disclaimer. 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the copyright notice, the list of conditions, and the disclaimer in the documentation or other materials provided with the distribution. 3. No Endorsement: Neither the name of the Xiph.Org Foundation nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

The Xiph.Org Foundation intentionally chose this permissive license for libvorbis to encourage the widespread adoption of the Vorbis audio format across all platforms, hardware, and software, without the restrictive copyleft requirements associated with licenses like the GNU General Public License (GPL).