Maintainer:@VolkanSah & @BadTin and some Cats
ESOL v2.0 is a high-integrity usage license designed to layer on top of any standard software license (MIT, Apache, GPL, and more) to enforce ethical boundaries — not just in cybersecurity, but across all open source projects. While the base license governs copying and modification of code, ESOL v2.0 governs the legal and ethical execution of the Work.
ESOL v2.0 supersedes ESOL v1.1 and the Zero-Tolerance Addendum — both are now consolidated into a single document.
What's new in v2.0
- Unified document — ESOL v1.1 and the Zero-Tolerance Addendum merged into one file
- Universal scope — no longer limited to security projects; applies to all public repositories by VolkanSah
- AI Training clarified — training is permitted; training for weapons, fraud, or criminal applications is not
- Weapons & military systems — explicit unconditional prohibition added
- Closed AI systems — permitted with attribution; prohibited when used to circumvent Section 4
- German criminal law table — restructured for clarity
- Psychological Barrier retained from Zero-Tolerance Addendum
How to Apply ESOL to Your Project
Add the following to your LICENSE file or README.md, and place the ESOL_v2.0.md file in your repository root:
This Work is dual-licensed under the [INSERT BASE LICENSE, e.g., MIT] and the
Ethical Security Operations Licensee (ESOL v2.0).
The ESOL is a mandatory, non-severable condition of use.
By using this software, you agree to all ethical constraints defined in ESOL v2.0.
Compatibility Matrix
| Base License | Compatible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical usage restrictions |
| Apache 2.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL complements patent/usage clauses |
| BSD 2-Clause | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds usage restrictions |
| BSD 3-Clause | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds usage restrictions |
| BSD 4-Clause | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds usage restrictions |
| ISC | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds usage restrictions |
| GNU GPLv2 | ✅ Yes* | ESOL acts as a "Nutzungsvorbehalt" |
| GNU GPLv3 | ✅ Yes* | ESOL acts as a "Nutzungsvorbehalt" |
| GNU AGPLv3 | ✅ Yes* | ESOL complements network use clauses |
| GNU LGPLv2.1 | ✅ Yes* | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| GNU LGPLv3 | ✅ Yes* | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| GNU FDL | ✅ Yes* | ESOL adds security use constraints |
| EUPL v1.1 | ✅ Yes | ESOL aligns with EU legal framework |
| EUPL v1.2 | ✅ Yes | ESOL aligns with EU legal framework |
| MPL 2.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| CDDL 1.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| EPL 1.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| EPL 2.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| OSL 3.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| CPAL 1.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| Artistic 2.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| Zlib | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| PSF 2.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| AFL 3.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| MS-PL | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| MS-RL | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| LPPL 1.3c | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| OFL 1.1 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| Vim License | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| Fair | ✅ Yes | ESOL reinforces fair use constraints |
| CC0 1.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL reintroduces mandatory ethical limits |
| CC BY 4.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| CC BY-SA 4.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| CC BY-NC 4.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL reinforces non-commercial restrictions |
| CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL reinforces non-commercial restrictions |
| CC BY-ND 4.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL adds ethical use constraints |
| CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | ✅ Yes | ESOL reinforces non-commercial restrictions |
| The Unlicense | ✅ Yes | ESOL reintroduces mandatory ethical limits |
| WTFPL | ✅ Yes | ESOL overrides permissiveness with ethics |
| Public Domain | ✅ Yes | ESOL reintroduces mandatory ethical limits |
| No License | ✅ Yes | ESOL provides ethical baseline; copyright law still applies |
| Proprietary | ✅ Yes | ESOL provides additional ethical baseline |
Under strict OSI definitions, usage restrictions may move a project from "Free Software" to "Source Available / Ethical Software".
Maintained for the open source community by @VolkanSahv2.0 released 2026 | Wall of Shames