Plain MIT License

Permissive

Do almost anything with this work. Just give credit.

A short, permissive license. Lets people do almost anything they want with your project.

The short version:
  • You can use, copy, change, and share this work for any reason, including commercially.
  • You must keep the copyright notice and this license with any copy you share.

What you can do

Sell it

You can sell this work or use it in a paid product.

Share it

You can share or give copies of this work to anyone.

Change it

You can change this work however you want.

Keep it private

You have no obligation to publish or share your changes.

What you must do

Give credit

You must name the original creator when you share this work.

Why: So the original creator gets credit for their work.

How to give credit

When you share this work, you must include the copyright notice and a reference to this license. Here is what that looks like:

Attribution template — replace the bracketed text with your own details:

[Work name] © [Year] [Creator name]. Plain MIT License.

Where to put it

In a source file header
              // Copyright (c) 2025 Your Name. Plain MIT License.
// Keep the copyright notice and the Plain MIT License with any copy you share.
            
In a README or document
              This project is licensed under the Plain MIT License.
See LICENSE for details.
            
On a website or app
              © 2025 Your Name — Plain MIT License
            

You do not need to:

  • Use a specific format or location
  • Ask for permission before using the work
  • Include the full license text everywhere you use the work
  • Use our exact wording — just keep the copyright notice and a reference to the license

Explore alternatives

Standard protections — the same across all licenses

No warranties

The work is provided as-is. The authors make no promises about whether it will work, whether it is accurate, or whether it is fit for any particular purpose.

No liability

The authors are not responsible for any damages or losses that result from using this work, even if they knew such damage was possible.

Legal interpretation

The Plain MIT License is a plain language version of the MIT License (1988) (opens in new tab) . We wrote it to make the MIT License (1988) more accessible and understandable, without changing its legal intent.

If precise legal language matters for your situation — for example, if you're in a dispute or reviewing compliance — refer to the official MIT License (opens in new tab) .

If a court finds that any part of this license can't be enforced, the rest of the license's rules still apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this for commercial projects?

Yes. The MIT license lets you use, sell, and share the work for any reason, including commercial products and services. Just keep the copyright notice and license with any copies you share.

Do I have to share my own materials if I use MIT-licensed work?

No. You can use MIT-licensed work in closed-source, proprietary projects. The only thing you must do is keep the copyright notice and license with any copies of the MIT-licensed work you share.

Can I change the license on my copy?

Yes. You can relicense your own project however you want, even proprietary. The MIT-licensed portions still carry the MIT copyright notice, but your additions can use any license, including additions or changes to the MIT-licensed work.

Get this license

Readability

Reading level ⚠ 9.41 (10th grade)
Original ✗ 31.02 (Post-graduate)
21.6 grades easier to read
Legal jargon remaining 0

Measured with the Gunning Fog Index — lower scores mean easier reading.

Version History

v0.2.1

Updated workspace metadata and formatting improvements

This isn't legal advice

We are not lawyers. This is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, talk to a lawyer. You use this license at your own risk.

We are normal people who want to make licenses accessible for everyone. We hope that our plain language helps you and anyone else understand this license (including lawyers). If you see a mistake or want to suggest a change, please submit an issue on GitHub.