policy-and-compliance-documents
Individual Contributor License Agreement (CLA) Template
Use our free Individual Contributor License Agreement (CLA) template to define the rights a contributor grants when submitting code or content to a project. Customize contribution scope, license grant, and representations — then download and print instantly.
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR LICENSE AGREEMENT (CLA) TEMPLATE FAQ
What is an individual contributor license agreement (CLA)?
An Individual Contributor License Agreement (CLA) is an agreement a person signs before contributing code, documentation, or other content to a project. It confirms the contributor has the right to submit the contribution and grants the project (or its maintainer) permission to use, modify, distribute, and sublicense the contribution under defined terms.
When should you use an individual CLA?
Use an individual CLA when contributions come from individuals who are not submitting on behalf of a company, or when a project requires each contributor to sign personally. It helps reduce IP disputes by documenting the contributor’s rights and the license granted to the project.
What rights does a contributor grant in a CLA?
Most CLAs grant a copyright license (and sometimes a patent license) that allows the project to use the contribution in the project, distribute it, and sometimes relicense it. The CLA should be clear about whether the grant is non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, and royalty-free.
Does an individual CLA transfer ownership of the contribution?
Usually no. Most CLAs keep ownership with the contributor and grant the project a broad license to use the contribution. Some agreements include an optional assignment clause, but many projects prefer a license grant rather than ownership transfer.
What warranties and promises are typical in a CLA?
Common promises include that the contributor wrote the contribution or has permission to submit it, that it does not knowingly include third-party IP without permission, and that the contributor will follow the project’s contribution rules. Many CLAs also include a disclaimer of warranties and a limitation of liability.
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