Bio-Formats is open source software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

As a "copyleft" license, the GPL requires that any software package linking to Bio-Formats, either directly or indirectly, cannot be distributed unless its source code is also made available under the terms of the GPL. In addition, it forbids distribution if your software package depends on any non-free software other than common operating system components.

For more information about the GPL and related licenses, see the GPL Overview on OSS Watch or the Wikipedia entry on the GPL. If you have questions about the Bio-Formats license, please contact us at bioformats@loci.wisc.edu.

If you prefer, you can obtain a commercial Bio-Formats license and/or support package from our commercial partner, Glencoe Software. Several different licensing arrangements are possible. Glencoe is committed to reaching a licensing solution that meets your needs; please contact them at bioformats@glencoesoftware.com to discuss your requirements.