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Clarify terms (#9668)
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* Clarify terms

* Fix linter line length issue

* Update license-information.md

Co-authored-by: Rich Lander <rlander@microsoft.com>

* Update per feedback

* Update license-information.md

---------

Co-authored-by: Jan Kotas <jkotas@microsoft.com>
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richlander and jkotas authored Dec 19, 2024
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# License Information

The .NET project uses source and binaries from multiple sources. The MIT license is the primary license used, however, there are some exceptions.

[Windows builds](license-information-windows.md) are the most notable difference, which carry additional license terms.
The .NET project uses source and binaries from multiple sources that may be important to your use of .NET.

This document is provided for informative purposes only and is not itself a license.

## Source code

.NET source is held in a variety of [project repos](./Documentation/core-repos.md). They use the MIT license, for example, [dotnet/runtime LICENSE.TXT](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/LICENSE.TXT).
.NET source uses the MIT license.

[Each repo](./Documentation/core-repos.md) has:


- A license, for example, [dotnet/runtime LICENSE.TXT](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/LICENSE.TXT).
- Third party notice file, for example, [dotnet/runtime THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.TXT](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.TXT)

More information:

- [Project copyright guidance](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/docs/project/copyright.md)

## Product distributions

Product distributions use the following license:

- On Linux and macOS: [MIT license](https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/main/LICENSE.TXT)
- On Windows: [.NET Library License](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/dotnet_library_license.htm)

Project repos may include source from other projects, and include a matching third-party notice for copied and modified source, for example [dotnet/runtime THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.TXT](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.TXT).
Product distributions include [downloadable assets](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet) and [runtime packs](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.NETCore.App.Runtime.win-x64/).

[Project copyright guidance](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/docs/project/copyright.md) provides more details on our policies.
More information:

## Binaries
- [Windows license information](https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/main/license-information-windows.md).
- [.NET Asset Licensing Model](https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/blob/main/docs/project/licensing-assets.md)

Project binaries (like the .NET runtime distribution) primarily use the MIT license. Binaries built for macOS and Linux exclusively use the MIT license.
## Package distributions

[Windows builds](license-information-windows.md) carry additional license terms, for closed source dependencies.
Library packages use the MIT license, for example [System.Text.Json](https://www.nuget.org/packages/System.Text.Json).

## Redistribution

Binaries produced by .NET SDK compilers (C#, F#, VB) can be redistributed without additional restrictions. The only restrictions are based on the license of the compiler inputs used to produce the binary.

Parts of the .NET runtime are embedded in applications, including [platform-specific executable hosts](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/core/deploying/deploy-with-cli#framework-dependent-executable), and [self-contained deployments](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/core/deploying/deploy-with-cli#self-contained-deployment), are subject to [.NET](https://github.com/dotnet/dotnet/blob/main/LICENSE.TXT) and [third-party notice](https://github.com/dotnet/dotnet/blob/main/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt) license terms.
Applications are subject to the same terms as are covered by "Product distributions" and "Package distibutions", above.

Binaries that target Windows are subject to [additional terms](license-information-windows.md).
Parts of the .NET runtime are embedded in applications, including [platform-specific executable hosts](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/core/deploying/deploy-with-cli#framework-dependent-executable),
and [self-contained deployments](https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/core/deploying/deploy-with-cli#self-contained-deployment).

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