15. Right to Use

Both OSL and AFL

You may use the Original Work in all ways not otherwise restricted or conditioned by this License or by law, and Licensor promises not to interfere with or be responsible for such uses by You.

This sentence is intended to accomplish two things. First, it declares that the use of the Original Work is a right of every licensee. It is a restatement of Open Source Principle # 1.

More important for the Licensor, it declares the Licensor's promise that he or she shall not interfere with or be responsible for such uses. You ”not the Licensor ”are responsible for complying with any local laws regarding the Original Work , such as the export control laws or the product safety laws. You , not the Licensor, have sole discretion to do what you want with the Original Work . Don't look to the Licensor for comfort or authority, and exercise your freedom responsibly.

Comparison to Other Licenses

Of the licenses discussed in this book, only the GPL contains a vaguely similar statement:

Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of running the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the Program (independent of having been made by running the Program). Whether that is true depends on what the Program does. ( GPL section 0.)

This GPL provision is often read as a license to use, although it doesn't expressly say so.