Licensing FAQs
Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about our licensing
What changes has Seldon made to its licensing models?
Prior to 22nd January 2024, Seldon licensed MLServer, Core 1, Core 2, Alibi Explain and Alibi Detect under the Apache License Version 2.0 (“Apache 2.0”), with Core+ and Seldon Enterprise Platform licensed under commercial licensing models.
As of 22nd January 2024:
- Core 1, Core 2, Alibi Explain and Alibi Detect are now licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 at no cost for non-production uses (with a limited exception for non-profit education institutions) and under other license terms for production uses;
- MLServer will continue to be licensed under the Apache 2.0 license;
- Core+ and Enterprise Platform are only licensed under commercial licenses.
For information about paid licensing arrangements for Seldon’s software, including for production or commercial use, please contact us.
What is the Business Source License 1.1 (“BSL”)?
The BSL is a source-available license that is an alternative to open source software license models. Under the BSL, the licensed source code is made publicly available for non-production use of the licensed code at no cost. The licensor may also grant Additional Use Grant(s) for production use subject to restrictions imposed by the licensor.
Software licensed under the BSL is guaranteed to become open source under a specified “Change License” at a “Change Date” in the future.
What rights are granted under the BSL? What restrictions apply to use of Seldon’s software products licensed under the BSL?
For software products licensed under the BSL, Seldon grants licensees the right to copy, modify, create derivative works, redistribute, and make non-production use of such software. All modifications and derivative works of the licensed software are also subject to the BSL.
Except with respect to the Additional Use Grant offered by Seldon, licensees cannot use the software licensed under the BSL for any production use. In addition, licensees must display this BSL on each original or modified copy of the licensed software.
What is the Change License?
Seldon’s Change License for Core 1, Core 2, Alibi Explain and Alibi Detect products is the Apache License Version 2.0.
When is the Change Date?
Seldon’s Change License for Core 1, Core 2, Alibi Explain and Alibi Detect products is four years from each version release.
Does the BSL apply to both the source code and the binaries for the Seldon software licensed under the BSL?
Yes. Both the source code and binaries for Core 1, Core 2, Alibi Explain and Alibi Detect are subject to the BSL.
Does Seldon offer any Additional Use Grants under the BSL?
Under Seldon’s BSL, Seldon grants a limited right to non-profit educational institutions to use the licensed software for production use. Such production use cannot include commercializing the licensed software or incorporating or including the licensed software into any models, products or services sold, licensed, marketed, or offered for sale to third-parties.
What are the next releases which will be licensed under the BSL?
Future releases, starting with Core 1.18, Core 2.7, Alibi Detect 0.11.5, Alibi Explain 0.9.5 will be licensed under the BSL.
What does this mean for current Core and Alibi users?
For releases from 22nd January 2024, you can continue to use Core and Alibi in a development or test environment. If you deploy machine learning models in production with Core, or use Alibi on models in production, you’ll need to purchase a subscription.
How does Seldon define production use?
Any model which is not in a pre-production environment, including development, testing, or staging.
How can Core and/or Alibi be used in production and how can I purchase a license?
Production use of Core and Alibi is available under a commercial license. Refer to our pricing page for pricing and purchase options. Under this license, customers may not commercialize Core or Alibi, or include them in any models, products or services sold, licensed, marketed, or offered for sale or licensing to third-parties. If you wish to use Core or Alibi as part of a product or service, contact [email protected].
Do I need to purchase a license for Core 1 / Core 2, or Alibi Detect / Alibi Explain separately?
No. Users with a Core license have access to both Core 1 and Core 2 throughout the length of their original license. Users with an Alibi license have access to both Alibi Detect and Alibi Explain throughout the length of their original license.
How can Core and/or Alibi be used in 3rd party products or services?
Production use of Core and Alibi is not permitted under the BSL, whether on a standalone basis or as part of a product or service. For partners needing to use Core and/or Alibi in their own commercial solution, please contact [email protected].
I have built an application that embeds and redistributes Seldon, how does this affect me?
If you’re already a customer or have an agreement to redistribute our software, there is no change.
For commercial applications, to redistribute our default distribution under the BSL, reach out to our team to discuss. We’re happy to help if you have any questions: reach out to us at [email protected] to discuss your particular situation.
I plan to modify the source code of the Seldon software licensed under the BSL; can I redistribute the modified version under a different license?
No. The modified version (together with the original Seldon software) constitutes a derivative work of the original Seldon software licensed under the BSL. Under the BSL, modified versions are also subject to the BSL and cannot be redistributed under a different license.
What if I merge Seldon code licensed under the BSL with other code?
The merged code will be bound by the BSL (or the Change License after the Change Date) with respect to the Seldon code components and the license(s) applicable to the other code with respect to the non-BSL components. So, merging BSL code and code licensed under a less permissive license may be challenging. If mixing Seldon’s code with code licensed under certain permissive licenses (such as Apache Version 2.0), you may also provide the entire program under the BSL with a notice for the permissive (e.g. Apache 2.0) portion.
We are a university. Do we need to buy a subscription?
Non-profit educational institutions may use Core or Alibi projects for production uses; provided, that such use does not include commercializing the products or incorporating or including the products into any models, products or services sold, licensed, marketed, or offered for sale to third-parties.
What does this mean for commercial customers of Seldon?
Existing customers and partners using Seldon products under a commercial license are not affected.
I have previously licensed and used Seldon software under an open source license prior to 22nd January 2024. How does this impact my use of such software?
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I currently contribute to Seldon’s open source projects, how does this affect me?
First, a big thank you! You can continue to contribute to Seldon’s open source and source available products as you always have, whether that code is under the Apache 2.0 or BSL licenses. If you contribute or have contributed to Seldon’s open source project under the Apache 2.0 license, your individual contributions will remain subject to the Apache 2.0 license, but Seldon may include such contribution as part of a larger project that constitutes a derivative work of the project and is licensed as a whole under the BSL license. Note that in such cases your individual contribution will not be licensed separately from the larger project as a whole to any other licensee. If you would like to contribute to Seldon’s open source project under the BSL license, Seldon may require you to sign a sign a Contributor License Agreement (“CLA”) before accepting such contribution. To learn more about how to contribute, see our contributor guide.
Why are you offering both Apache Version 2.0 and BSL licenses for different projects?
We are committed to our open core business model, which means offering products along the licensing and pricing spectra. For Seldon, this means offering our base product, MLServer, under an open-source license, our mid-level products, Core and Alibi, under a source-available license (with commercial license options for production use), and our enterprise grade products, Core+ and Enterprise Platform, under commercial licenses.
Does this mean that Core and Alibi are no longer Open Source?
We no longer refer to these software distributions as open source. We updated our website and our messaging to refer to these products as “Free & Open,” and when talking about the licenses directly, we describe them as “source-available.”
Will Seldon continue to develop open source software?
Our commitments to the principles of open source have not changed at all over the past decade — we always have and always will value transparency, collaboration, and community.
MLServer, as the starting point in the ML production journey, will continue to be available under the Apache License Version 2.0. The Apache License Version 2.0 is a permissive free software license. Subject to certain notice, disclosure, attribution and other requirements set forth in the Apache License Version 2.0, licensees enjoy broad rights to use, modify, distribute, or sublicense the code licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0. We will also continue to contribute to other open source projects, as we have always done.
For information about Seldon and the licensing models for Seldon’s software, please visit the following resources or contact us at: [email protected]
For media related enquiries, please contact [email protected]
For questions about licensing and clarifications on usage restrictions, please contact [email protected]
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