> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://edehr.gitbook.io/edehr-compass/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://edehr.gitbook.io/edehr-compass/legal-and-compliance/licensing/intellectual-property-and-licensing.md).

# Intellectual Property & Licensing

## Understanding the Licensing Landscape

EdEHR involves two types of intellectual property, each with its own licensing considerations. Understanding the distinction helps institutions feel confident about what they are adopting and how they can use the materials in this documentation.

### The EdEHR Platform

The EdEHR platform is dual-licensed:

* **Open-source edition**: The platform source code is publicly available on GitHub under the **GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0)**. Anyone can view, use, and modify the code. If someone modifies the code and makes it available to others (including over a network), those modifications must also be shared under the same license.
* **Commercial edition**: EdEHR Technologies delivers the platform as a managed software-as-a-service (SaaS). That production environment is a proprietary commercial offering and is distinct from the public open-source codebase. The public AGPL-3.0 source is not the live commercial platform.

EdEHR Technologies owns the EdEHR platform, including its source code, architecture, and all associated intellectual property. Full platform licensing details, terms of service, and trademark information are published at [edehr.org](https://edehr.org).

### EdEHR Compass Content

The documentation and guides in EdEHR Compass are licensed under **Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0)**, housed in a dedicated repository within the EdEHR Technologies GitHub organization.

CC BY-SA 4.0 was chosen for Compass content because it is the standard license for open documentation and educational materials. It provides copyleft protection (anyone who adapts and redistributes the content must share those changes under the same terms) while using legal language designed for text and media rather than software. See the [Legal & Compliance Overview](/edehr-compass/legal-and-compliance/readme.md) for the full license terms and attribution line.

## What This Means for Institutions

* **You can freely access and use** all EdEHR Compass content to support your evaluation, adoption, and implementation of EdEHR.
* **You can adapt** Compass content for your own institutional materials, provided you attribute the source and share adaptations under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 terms.
* **You cannot create a closed or proprietary version** of Compass content without sharing your modifications openly.
* **Platform IP, terms of service, and trademarks** are documented at [edehr.org](https://edehr.org).

## Key Takeaways

* **The platform** is dual-licensed: open-source AGPL-3.0 and a proprietary commercial SaaS edition. These are distinct offerings.
* **Compass content** is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, a recognized open license for documentation and educational materials.
* **EdEHR Technologies** owns the platform and manages both editions.


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