Elastic License 2.0
Source-availableSPDX identifier:
Elastic-2.0OSI ✗Data updated Sep 26, 2026In plain words
Source-available: free to use and modify, but you may not offer it as a managed service or bypass license keys.
Analogy: Cook with it at home or in your restaurant, but don't open a store that sells this exact dish.
Pros
- + Short and clear
- + Targets only managed-service competitors
Cons
- - Not open source
- - Limits forks and some partners
Well-known projects using it
5 well-known projects in our map use this license.
- AirbyteData and analytics · AirbyteSwitched to it on Sep 27, 2021
- BeatsObservability · ElasticAlso offered under: SSPL-1.0
- ElasticsearchDatabase · ElasticSwitched to it on Jan 14, 2021Also offered under: AGPL-3.0 / SSPL-1.0
- KibanaObservability · ElasticSwitched to it on Jan 14, 2021Also offered under: AGPL-3.0 / SSPL-1.0
- LogstashObservability · ElasticAlso offered under: SSPL-1.0
Permissions
- Commercial use
- Modification
- Distribution
- Private use
- Patent grant
Conditions
- Keep copyright notice
- Keep the limitations
Limitations
- No liability
- No warranty
- No managed service
- No license-key bypass
Extreme scenarios · Code licenses
- A1Blocked by licenseA cloud vendor sells your project as a managed service
- A2With conditionsSomeone forks it and distributes a closed-source competitorLimitations must be kept
- A3AllowedEmbedded in a closed-source SaaS backend (not distributed)Not hosting the product itself
- A4AllowedLinked into a closed-source app or firmware and distributed
- A5Not addressedSomeone promotes a modified version with your name or trademark
- A6AllowedSomeone sells unmodified copies
- B1Blocked by licenseA user sues you for patent infringement and keeps using the code
- B2Blocked by licenseA contributor asserts patents on their contributed code
- B3Not addressedA cross-border dispute: governing law and venue
- C1With conditionsYou later relicense or sell commercial licenses (contributors signed no CLA)Usually relies on a CLA
- C2Blocked by licenseYour code is merged into a GPL-3.0 project
- C3Blocked by licenseYou use a GPL-3.0 dependency and still ship under this license
- C4With conditionsThe project is abandoned and someone forks it to continueLimitations continue
- C5With conditionsYou want to block only big companies or competitorsOnly for managed services
- C6Not addressedKey code was written by an employee and the employer objects
- D1Blocked by licenseSomeone removes copyright or attribution notices
- D2AllowedSomeone modifies files without marking the changes
- D3AllowedInternal modification, no distribution and no external service
- D4AllowedUsed for military, surveillance or other uses you object to
- D5Not addressedUsed by a sanctioned entity
- D6Not addressedYour code is used to train an AI model
Worst-case radar
- 1Stops free-riding33
- 2Stops closed forks25
- 3Patent protection100
- 4Adoption friction25
- 5Hard to relicense50
Computed from the scenario matrix. Higher means more of that property, not "better".
Compare with…
Official text
Only the official text is legally binding. We do not translate license texts.
https://www.elastic.co/licensing/elastic-license
Elastic License 2.0
Elastic License 2.0
URL: https://www.elastic.co/licensing/elastic-license
Acceptance
By using the software, you agree to all of the terms and conditions below.
Copyright License
The licensor grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide,
non-sublicensable, non-transferable license to use, copy, distribute, make
available, and prepare derivative works of the software, in each case subject to
the limitations and conditions below.
Limitations
You may not provide the software to third parties as a hosted or managed
service, where the service provides users with access to any substantial set of
the features or functionality of the software.
You may not move, change, disable, or circumvent the license key functionality
in the software, and you may not remove or obscure any functionality in the
software that is protected by the license key.
You may not alter, remove, or obscure any licensing, copyright, or other notices
of the licensor in the software. Any use of the licensor’s trademarks is subject
to applicable law.
Patents
The licensor grants you a license, under any patent claims the licensor can
license, or becomes able to license, to make, have made, use, sell, offer for
sale, import and have imported the software, in each case subject to the
limitations and conditions in this license. This license does not cover any
patent claims that you cause to be infringed by modifications or additions to
the software. If you or your company make any written claim that the software
infringes or contributes to infringement of any patent, your patent license for
the software granted under these terms ends immediately. If your company makes
such a claim, your patent license ends immediately for work on behalf of your
company.
Notices
You must ensure that anyone who gets a copy of any part of the software from you
also gets a copy of these terms.
If you modify the software, you must include in any modified copies of the
software prominent notices stating that you have modified the software.
## No Other Rights
These terms do not imply any licenses other than those expressly granted in
these terms.
Termination
If you use the software in violation of these terms, such use is not licensed,
and your licenses will automatically terminate. If the licensor provides you
with a notice of your violation, and you cease all violation of this license no
later than 30 days after you receive that notice, your licenses will be
reinstated retroactively. However, if you violate these terms after such
reinstatement, any additional violation of these terms will cause your licenses
to terminate automatically and permanently.
No Liability
As far as the law allows, the software comes as is, without any warranty or
condition, and the licensor will not be liable to you for any damages arising
out of these terms or the use or nature of the software, under any kind of
legal claim.
Definitions
The licensor is the entity offering these terms, and the software is the
software the licensor makes available under these terms, including any portion
of it.
you refers to the individual or entity agreeing to these terms.
your company is any legal entity, sole proprietorship, or other kind of
organization that you work for, plus all organizations that have control over,
are under the control of, or are under common control with that
organization. control means ownership of substantially all the assets of an
entity, or the power to direct its management and policies by vote, contract, or
otherwise. Control can be direct or indirect.
your licenses are all the licenses granted to you for the software under
these terms.
use means anything you do with the software requiring one of your licenses.
trademark means trademarks, service marks, and similar rights.