Beerware is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek term for software released under a very relaxed license (beerware licensed software). It provides the end user with the right to use a particular program (or do anything else with the source code).[1]
The term was invented by John Bristor in Pensacola, Florida on April 25, 1987,[citation needed] and the first software distributed using the Beerware licensing model was uploaded to a number of BBSs in 1987 and 1988.[citation needed] Many variations on the beerware model have been created since that time.
Poul-Henning Kamp's beerware license is simple and short, in contrast to the GPL which he has described as a "joke".[2] The full text of Kamp's license is:[3]
/*
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* "THE BEER-WARE LICENSE" (Revision 42):
* <phk@FreeBSD.ORG> wrote this file. As long as you retain this notice you
* can do whatever you want with this stuff. If we meet some day, and you think
* this stuff is worth it, you can buy me a beer in return. Poul-Henning Kamp
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
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