License and Legal

About Licenses

bg2 engine is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPL v3).

If you need a license that is not compatible with GPL v3 for your commercial project, contact us directly for custom licensing options.

License Summary

What You Can Do with GPL v3

✓ Use: Distribute and modify the software freely
✓ Commercial Use: Sell applications using bg2 engine
✓ Distribution: Share your modified versions with others
✓ Source Code: You must provide the corresponding source code to anyone who receives your application
✓ Derivatives: Create modified versions and distribute them
✓ Embedding: Use bg2 engine as an embedded component in larger software

What You Cannot Do

✗ Closed Source: Distribute modified versions without providing source code
✗ Proprietary License: Charge for your version without releasing source code
✗ Restrictive Terms: Add additional restrictions that override GPL v3 terms
✗ Patent License: Do not claim patent rights on modifications or algorithms

Detailed License Terms

GPL v3 License Text

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 3, 29 June 2007

Copyright (C) 2026 BG2 Engine Contributors

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

Key Obligations When Distributing Modified Versions

Include License: You must distribute the same license and copyright notice
State Changes: Clearly indicate what changes you made to the program
Source Code: Provide corresponding source code for your modified version
License Copy: Provide the complete, verbatim source code in a convenient manner
Location: Deliver the source from the same medium on which users can receive the modified version
Other Rights: User rights remain unaffected by the license modifications

What This Means for Users

Anyone using your application can request and receive the source code
They can inspect and modify the code if they have the skills
They can redistribute their modified version under GPL v3
Your proprietary restrictions are superseded by GPL v3 terms

Commercial Use and GPL Compatibility

Permitted Commercial Activities

✓ Developing and selling games using bg2 engine
✓ Creating visualization software for commercial use
✓ Offering technical services and support for applications using bg2 engine
✓ Custom modifications and extensions
✓ Including bg2 engine as part of larger proprietary software

Requirements for Commercial Users

Must distribute source code when distributing modified applications
Must comply with GPL v3 attribution requirements
Must use the same license for any modifications to the engine
Must maintain the GPL v3 license terms for all distribution

Attribution Requirements

Any distribution of bg2 engine or derivatives must include:

Credit: Acknowledge bg2 Engine and contributors
Copyright Notice: Keep the original copyright notices intact
License Reference: Include the GPL v3 license text
Source Code Availability: Information on how to obtain source code

Additional Information

Contact for Non-GPL Licenses

For custom licensing solutions not covered by GPL v3, contact us through:

Email: contact@bg2engine.com
GitHub: GitHub Repository
Documentation: See the project README for contact information

Version Specifics

This license applies to the current version of bg2 engine and all subsequent versions. Changes to the license will be communicated through official release channels and documentation updates.