Dual licensing in open-source projects refers to the practice of offering the same software under two different sets of licensing conditions. Typically, one of these is an open-source license, which allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software as long as they comply with the terms of that license. The second license is often a commercial license, which provides more flexibility or additional rights, especially for organizations that may want to integrate the software into proprietary systems without adhering to the open-source license.
For example, consider a hypothetical project called "CodeLib." CodeLib might be released under the GPL (General Public License), which requires that any distributed modifications also be open-sourced under the same license. However, the developers of CodeLib might also offer a commercial license for businesses that want to use CodeLib in a proprietary product without having to share their modifications. This allows the developers to generate revenue while still contributing to the open-source community and providing the community with free access to the software.
The dual licensing model can benefit both developers and users. Developers can monetize their work, which can fund ongoing development, support, or additional features. For users, particularly businesses, this model provides options: they can choose the open-source license if they are comfortable with the compliance requirements, or they can pay for a commercial license for fewer restrictions. This flexibility ensures that both casual users and enterprises with more complex needs can benefit from the software, making dual licensing a practical approach in the open-source ecosystem.