Software, Open Source, and Copyright Licensing
The Office of Technology Commercialization helps UT researchers monetize software and creative content they develop while at the university. OTC can help researchers find the optimal license type and distribution strategy for such work, which includes open sourcing. OTC also helps with finding commercialization partners, negotiating licenses, and supporting start ups. Learn more below.
Who should I contact at OTC for questions related to software, copyrights, courseware, and open source?

Dr. Robert Villwock, Software and Copyrights Licensing. You can contact Dr. Villwock directly at (512) 232-6976 or bvillwock@otc.utexas.edu.
How is software licensed?
- Commercial licensing – Commercial licensing by the university can be done directly to end users or through distributors. Payment forms vary from product to product, but will generally either be on a fixed fee basis (one-time or annual) or on a royalty basis. OTC maintains templates for commercial software licenses, including an Evaluation License that is used in circumstances where a firm wishes to gain access to the software for evaluation purposes for a limited period of time before purchasing a license.
- Open source licensing and publication – In accordance with the policy of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, OTC supports open source licensing and publication of university-owned software and assists creators in determining the best method of distribution.
- Dual Licensing – Under dual licensing, one software program is made available under the two different distribution mechanisms described above. Under the open source/publication mechanism, source code for the software is made available at no cost under license terms that allow third parties to study the software and use it for research purposes, but contain restrictions on use or distribution that may make commercial use unfeasible. Under the commercial licensing mechanism, the software is licensed for a fee on licensing terms that permit the use of the software for commercial purposes. Examples of UT software that have been distributed under dual licensing include iRecommend and HOARD.
What open source licenses does OTC recommend?
- GPL, version 2 (note: v2 only)
- UT’s Research Only License (Word)
- BSD 3-Clause (“BSD New”)
- LGPL (note: v2.1 only)
OTC can assist software creators in selecting the appropriate form of open source license or other method of publication based on:
- The goals of the creators
- The perceived commercial value of the software
- Third-party restrictions applicable to the software
How does an inventor go about publishing software under open source?
- Complete the software disclosure form and return a fully-signed copy to OTC, together with copies of any open source licenses applicable to any third-party open source software included in the software.
- Select an appropriate license.
- Upon submission of the invention disclosure form, OTC will work with the creators to understand any limitations on distribution. For example, sponsored research encumbrances, joint ownership, or incorporation of third-party open source software can all limit the university’s ability to license the software on an open source basis.
- Obtain department chair approval for open source release. In accordance with UT System policy, creators should obtain approval for the proposed method of distribution from their department chair or unit head.
- The creators can then post or distribute the software under the chosen open source license. OTC can help you determine the appropriate copyright notice and license text to include with the posting. If the software is also being made available for commercial licensing through OTC as described under “Dual Licensing” above, then notice of appropriate OTC contacts for licensing can be provided on the website. Keep OTC informed of the website URL at which your software is posted.
NOTE: Inventors interested in open source licensing may wish to consult Open Source Toolkit for Technology Managers.
What if my software includes third-party contributions, such as a framework or graphics library?
What is OTC's procedure for disclosing software?