CentOS下LibOffice的许可证问题

LibreOffice in CentOS: Key Licensing Considerations

1. Open-Source License Type

LibreOffice is distributed under the Mozilla Public License v2.0 (MPLv2), a permissive free software license that allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software—both in unmodified and modified forms—for personal, commercial, or educational purposes. This license permits combining LibreOffice with proprietary software (subject to certain conditions) and requires that any modifications to the original code be disclosed under the same MPLv2 license.

2. Cost Implications

There are no licensing fees, subscriptions, or product keys required to download, install, or use LibreOffice on CentOS (or any other platform). Users can obtain the software from official sources (e.g., The Document Foundation’s website) or Linux repositories (e.g., CentOS’ default yum/dnf repositories) at no cost. This makes it a cost-effective alternative to proprietary office suites like Microsoft Office.

3. Usage Rights

Users are granted broad usage rights under the MPLv2 license:

• Installation: Install LibreOffice on any number of devices (servers, desktops, laptops) without restrictions.
• Modification: Modify the source code to tailor the software to specific needs (e.g., adding custom macros, integrating with enterprise systems).
• Distribution: Redistribute LibreOffice (in original or modified form) as long as the modified versions retain the MPLv2 license terms and include attribution to the original contributors.

4. Enterprise Deployment

For enterprise environments (e.g., government agencies, educational institutions, businesses), LibreOffice’s open-source license eliminates the need for expensive per-seat licenses. Organizations can deploy LibreOffice across all employee devices without incurring per-user costs. Additionally, commercial support is available from third-party providers (e.g., Collabora, Red Hat) for enterprises requiring guaranteed maintenance, security updates, or custom integration.

5. Compliance Notes

While LibreOffice is free to use, users must comply with the MPLv2 license terms:

• Attribution: Retain copyright notices and license text in redistributed versions.
• Source Code Availability: For modified versions distributed to others, provide access to the corresponding source code under MPLv2.
• Patent Grants: The license includes a patent grant, protecting users from patent claims related to LibreOffice’s code.

Installation on CentOS

To install LibreOffice on CentOS, users can leverage the default package manager (yum/dnf) or download RPM packages from the official website. For example:

# Update system repositories
sudo yum update  
# Install LibreOffice from default repos (CentOS 7+)
sudo yum install libreoffice  

This process ensures compliance with licensing terms, as the repository packages are pre-configured to adhere to the MPLv2 license.

In summary, LibreOffice’s licensing model on CentOS is designed to maximize accessibility and flexibility, making it a viable choice for users of all sizes—from individual home users to large enterprises.