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Forge Framework - Licensing Guide

This document explains the licensing structure for the Forge framework and its extensions.

📜 Overview

Forge uses a dual-licensing approach:

  1. Forge Core Framework: MIT License (permissive, open source)
  2. AI Extension: Commercial Source-Available License (restrictive)
  3. All Other Extensions: MIT License (permissive, open source)

🎯 Quick Reference

Component License Commercial Use Redistribution
Forge Core MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Auth Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Cache Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Consensus Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Dashboard Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Database Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Events Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
GraphQL Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
gRPC Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
HLS Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Kafka Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
MCP Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
MQTT Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
oRPC Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Queue Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Search Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Storage Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
Streaming Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
WebRTC Extension MIT ✅ Free ✅ Yes
AI Extension Commercial ❌ License Required ❌ No

📖 License Details

Forge Core & Most Extensions (MIT License)

Location: LICENSE (root directory)

The MIT License is one of the most permissive open source licenses. You can:

  • ✅ Use for commercial purposes
  • ✅ Modify the code
  • ✅ Distribute copies
  • ✅ Sublicense
  • ✅ Use in proprietary software

Requirements:

  • Include the original copyright notice
  • Include the license text

No Warranty: The software is provided "as is" without warranty.

AI Extension (Commercial Source-Available License)

Location: extensions/ai/LICENSE

The AI Extension uses a more restrictive license because it contains proprietary algorithms and represents significant R&D investment.

Free Use Cases

You CAN use the AI Extension for FREE for:

  • Personal projects
  • Educational purposes
  • Research and academic use
  • Internal evaluation (90 days)
  • Learning and studying the code

Commercial License Required

You NEED a paid commercial license for:

  • Production deployments in commercial environments
  • SaaS products or services
  • Internal tools that generate revenue or cost savings
  • Any commercial advantage use

Prohibited Without Permission

You CANNOT:

  • Redistribute the AI Extension
  • Build competing AI products
  • Extract and reuse the AI models or algorithms
  • Remove copyright notices

See: extensions/ai/LICENSE_NOTICE.md for detailed summary

🤝 Why This Licensing Structure?

Open Core Model

We believe in open source and want to provide a powerful, free framework for the community. The MIT license for Forge core and most extensions ensures:

  • Maximum adoption and community growth
  • No barriers for startups and small projects
  • Transparent, auditable code
  • Community contributions and improvements

Protecting Innovation

The AI Extension represents specialized work that required significant investment in:

  • AI model integration research
  • Team coordination algorithms
  • Training pipeline development
  • Production-grade inference systems

The commercial license for the AI Extension allows us to:

  • Continue investing in R&D
  • Provide enterprise support
  • Maintain the extension long-term
  • Build a sustainable business model

💼 Getting a Commercial License

Pricing

Contact us for pricing information. We offer:

  • Startup Plans: Affordable pricing for early-stage companies
  • Enterprise Plans: Unlimited use with SLA and support
  • Custom Agreements: Tailored licensing for specific needs

What's Included

Commercial licenses include:

  • ✅ Production deployment rights
  • ✅ Commercial use authorization
  • ✅ Priority email and chat support
  • ✅ Security patch notifications
  • ✅ Upgrade assistance
  • ✅ Optional: Custom SLAs
  • ✅ Optional: Integration consulting

Contact

❓ FAQ

Can I use Forge Core with the AI Extension together?

Yes! You can use Forge Core (MIT) in any project. If you want to add the AI Extension:

  • Free for personal/evaluation use
  • Commercial license required for production use

What if I only use Forge Core without the AI Extension?

Perfect! The core framework is MIT licensed—use it freely for any purpose, including commercial products.

Can I contribute to the AI Extension?

Yes! We welcome contributions. By contributing, you grant us a license to use your contribution under any license terms, including the commercial license. Contributors are recognized and appreciated.

Can I fork and modify Forge Core?

Absolutely! The MIT license allows you to fork, modify, and redistribute the core framework.

Can I fork and modify the AI Extension?

You can fork and modify for personal use, but you cannot redistribute your fork. See the AI Extension license for details.

What happens if I violate the AI Extension license?

License termination and potential legal action. We prefer to work with users to ensure compliance—contact us if you have questions.

Can I get a trial commercial license?

The 90-day evaluation period lets you test the AI Extension internally. Contact us to extend the evaluation or discuss trial licensing.

Do students/researchers need a commercial license?

No! Academic and research use is explicitly allowed under the free tier.

What if I'm building an open source project?

For open source projects:

  • Forge Core: Use freely (MIT)
  • AI Extension: Personal/educational use is free; if the project generates revenue, a commercial license is needed

📚 Additional Resources

  • Main License (MIT): /LICENSE
  • AI Extension License: /extensions/ai/LICENSE
  • AI Extension Summary: /extensions/ai/LICENSE_NOTICE.md
  • Contributing Guide: /CONTRIBUTING.md (if available)
  • Code of Conduct: /CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md (if available)

🔄 License Changes

We reserve the right to change licensing terms for future versions. Existing versions remain under their original licenses.

  • Current version licensing is locked
  • Future versions may have different terms
  • You can continue using the version you acquired under its original license

Last Updated: October 28, 2025

For questions about licensing, contact: licensing@xraph.com