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Licensing
The ratel-ai-core engine is Apache-2.0; everything else is MIT.
Ratel uses two permissive licenses: the ratel-ai-core Rust crate — the engine — is Apache-2.0, and everything else is MIT. The split is decided in ADR 0009.
| Component | License | Why |
|---|---|---|
ratel-ai-core (the engine) | Apache-2.0 | Explicit patent grant on the code others embed |
SDKs (@ratel-ai/sdk, ratel-ai), native bindings, telemetry packages, examples | MIT | Matches ecosystem norms |
Ratel Local (@ratel-ai/mcp-server, ratel-ai/ratel-local) | MIT | Same |
Skills (ratel-ai/skills) | MIT | Same |
What this means for you
- Embed and redistribute freely. Both licenses permit commercial use, modification, and redistribution.
- Patent protection. The engine's Apache-2.0 license includes an explicit patent grant.
- Mixing is standard. MIT code depending on Apache-2.0 code is a common, one-way-compatible combination — no extra obligations for consumers.
- Old versions keep their terms. Versions published before the relicense stay under the license they shipped with.
There is no AGPL, SSPL, BSL, or any other source-available or copyleft license anywhere in the repo — a decision recorded in ADR 0009.
License texts
- LICENSE-APACHE — Apache-2.0, for the engine
- LICENSE.md — MIT, for everything else
- NOTICE — per-component breakdown