What are the licensing terms for using OpenClaw?
Let's cut straight to the chase: the licensing terms for using openclaw are defined by the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPLv3). This isn't a proprietary, closed-source product you simply buy a subscription for. Instead, it's open-source software, which fundamentally changes how you can use it, modify it, and what your obligations are. The AGPLv3 license is a powerful and specific type of copyleft license, and understanding its nuances is critical for any individual or organization considering its deployment, especially in a commercial setting.
The core principle of the AGPLv3, and what makes it different from more permissive open-source licenses like MIT or Apache 2.0, is the concept of "copyleft." In simple terms, copyleft ensures that the freedoms to use, study, share, and modify the software are preserved in all downstream versions. If you take AGPLv3-licensed code and create a modified version of it, your modified version must also be licensed under the AGPLv3. You can't take the open-source code, add your own features, and then relicence it as a proprietary, closed-source product. This "viral" nature is designed to keep the software and its derivatives free and open.
Where the AGPLv3 gets its teeth, and the "Affero" part becomes critically important, is in its handling of network use. Traditional copyleft licenses like the GPLv3 require you to share the source code only if you distribute the software to others. However, in the modern era of software-as-a-service (SaaS), a company can run a modified version of GPLv3 software on their own servers and never distribute the software—they just provide access to it over a network. This loophole allows them to benefit from the open-source project without being obligated to contribute their modifications back. The AGPLv3 closes this loophole. If you run a modified version of an AGPLv3-licensed program like OpenClaw on a server and allow users to interact with it over a network (e.g., through a web interface or API), the license considers that an act of distribution. Therefore, you are legally obligated to make the complete corresponding source code of your modified version available to those users.
This has profound implications for how businesses can operate with OpenClaw. Let's break down the practical obligations based on different use cases:
For Individual Developers and Internal Use: If you are an individual developer or a company using the unmodified version of OpenClaw purely for internal purposes—for example, to assist your own software development team—the AGPLv3 imposes virtually no restrictions. You can download, install, and use it without any requirement to share your internal usage or any code you produce with it. The license's obligations are triggered by modification and distribution/network use.
For Modifying and Hosting a Public Service (The SaaS Scenario): This is the most complex and legally significant scenario. Imagine you want to create a new AI-powered customer support chat service. You decide to use OpenClaw as your foundation, but you need to heavily modify its models and interface to specialize in customer support. You then host this modified version on your servers and offer it as a paid subscription service.
- Your Obligation: Because you are allowing the public to interact with your modified version over a network, the AGPLv3 requires you to provide the complete source code of your modifications to every user of your service. This doesn't mean you have to give the service away for free, but it does mean your proprietary enhancements cannot be kept secret.
- How to Comply: You could provide a link to the source code in the user interface of your service, include it in your API documentation, or offer to send it to any user upon request. The key is that it must be easily accessible.
For Distributing a Modified Application: If you modify OpenClaw and distribute it as a downloadable application (e.g., a desktop app or a self-hosted package that customers install on their own servers), the standard copyleft rules apply. You must license your entire derivative work under the AGPLv3 and provide the source code to anyone you distribute the application to.
It's also essential to understand what the license does not cover. The AGPLv3 governs the software itself. It does not place restrictions on the data used to train the OpenClaw models, the output generated by the software, or any other software that merely interacts with OpenClaw through an API. For instance, if you build a separate, proprietary application that sends prompts to a publicly hosted OpenClaw API and receives responses, your application's source code is not subject to the AGPLv3. The license "infection" applies to derivative works, not to independent programs that communicate with it.
To make these scenarios clearer, here's a quick-reference table:
| Your Use Case | AGPLv3 Obligation | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Using unmodified OpenClaw internally | None | Free to use without sharing anything. |
| Modifying OpenClaw for internal use only | None (as long as it's not accessed over a network by non-employees) | You can create private forks for your team. |
| Hosting a modified version as a public SaaS | Must provide source code of your modifications to all users. | Your core product differentiator cannot be proprietary code built on top of OpenClaw. |
| Distributing a modified version as a product | Must license the entire product under AGPLv3 and provide source. | You cannot create a closed-source, commercial derivative. |
| Building a separate app that uses OpenClaw's API | None for your app's code. | Your application remains under whatever license you choose. |
Before committing to a project based on OpenClaw, it is highly recommended to conduct thorough due diligence. The AGPLv3 is one of the most restrictive open-source licenses. You should consult with a legal professional experienced in software licensing to review your specific intended use case. They can provide a definitive opinion on whether your planned product or service would be considered a derivative work, ensuring you remain in compliance and avoid potential legal challenges. The official source code repository for OpenClaw will always contain the definitive LICENSE file, which is the ultimate authority on these terms.
Furthermore, the choice of AGPLv3 by the OpenClaw project maintainers is a strategic one. It encourages a collaborative ecosystem. Companies that benefit from improvements are incentivized to contribute those improvements back to the main project, strengthening the core software for everyone. This creates a virtuous cycle of innovation that might not happen if companies could simply take the code, build proprietary walls around it, and create a closed ecosystem. For many open-source advocates, this ensures that the project remains a true public good, preventing its commercialization in a way that locks away advancements.