policy-and-compliance-documents
Corporate Contributor License Agreement (CCLA) Template
Use our free Corporate Contributor License Agreement (CCLA) template to define the rights a company grants when its employees contribute to a project. Customize authorized contributors, license grant, and IP representations — then download and print instantly.
CORPORATE CONTRIBUTOR LICENSE AGREEMENT (CCLA) TEMPLATE FAQ
What is a corporate contributor license agreement (CCLA)?
A Corporate Contributor License Agreement (CCLA) is an agreement signed by a company (not an individual) to cover contributions made by its employees or contractors to an open source project. It confirms the company has rights in the contributions created within the scope of employment and grants the project permission to use those contributions under clear license terms.
When should you use a CCLA?
Use a CCLA when employees contribute to open source as part of their job or using company resources, or when a project requires corporate authorization for employee contributions. It helps prevent disputes about who owns the contribution and whether the company approved the license grant.
How does a CCLA relate to an individual CLA?
Some projects use only a CCLA for corporate contributors, while others require both: the company signs a CCLA and each employee also signs an individual CLA. The agreement should clarify whether the CCLA replaces or supplements individual signatures.
What should be included in a CCLA?
It should identify the project/maintainer, define “contribution” and “authorized contributors,” grant copyright (and optionally patent) licenses, include company representations (authority, ownership or control of contributions, no known IP violations), provide a process for listing authorized contributors, and include disclaimers and limitation of liability.
How do authorized contributors get managed?
Most CCLAs include an “Authorized Contributors” list or a process to update it (for example, by email notice). This makes it clear who is covered under the corporate agreement and reduces administrative friction for the project maintainers.
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