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Licensing

HOMESERVER LLC
Last Updated: October 14, 2025

Our Licensing Philosophy

Radical ownership means you control the software, not just the hardware. Everything that ships on your HOMESERVER is either open source or becomes open source. We believe in transparency, which is why all our code is hosted on GitHub for inspection, modification, and community contribution.

What Ships on Your Device

HOMESERVER LLC Website Code

License: Business Source License 1.1 (BSL 1.1)
Converts to: GNU GPL v3.0 three years after each version release
GitHub: https://github.com/homeserversltd/website

The web-based management interface that runs at https://home.arpa is licensed under BSL 1.1, which:

  • Allows you to use, modify, and distribute the code
  • Restricts commercial use during the BSL period (first 3 years)
  • Automatically converts to GPL v3.0 after three years
  • Ensures the code eventually becomes fully open source

You can: Use it on your device, modify it, contribute improvements
You cannot (during BSL period): Sell it as a competing product or service

HOMESERVER LLC System Components

License: GNU GPL v3.0
GitHub: https://github.com/homeserversltd

All system scripts, utilities, and infrastructure components created by HOMESERVER LLC are licensed under GPL v3.0, which means:

  • Complete freedom to use, modify, and distribute
  • Must share source code if you distribute modifications
  • No restrictions on commercial or non-commercial use
  • Copyleft protection ensures derivatives remain open

Third-Party Open Source Software

HOMESERVER includes multiple open-source services, each maintaining its original license:

Media & Entertainment:

  • Jellyfin – GPL v2.0 (media server)
  • Navidrome – GPL v3.0 (music server)
  • Calibre Web – GPL v3.0 (ebook library)
  • Piwigo – GPL v2.0 (photo gallery)

Productivity & Tools:

  • Vaultwarden – GPL v3.0 (password manager)
  • Gogs – MIT License (Git hosting)
  • FileBrowser – Apache 2.0 (file management)
  • Transmission – GPL v2.0/v3.0 (BitTorrent client)
  • Yarr – MIT License (RSS reader)

Infrastructure:

  • Debian Linux – Various open-source licenses per Debian guidelines
  • nginx – 2-clause BSD License (reverse proxy)
  • unbound – BSD License (DNS server with ad blocking)
  • kea – Mozilla Public License 2.0 (DHCP server)
  • nftables – GPL v2.0 (firewall)
  • Samba – GPL v3.0 (file sharing)
  • Tailscale – BSD 3-Clause License (VPN)

Frontend & Backend:

  • React – MIT License (frontend framework)
  • Flask – BSD 3-Clause License (backend framework)

Full license details for each component are available in their respective documentation and GitHub repositories.

What Remains Proprietary

The following processes remain proprietary to HOMESERVER LLC:

  • Manufacturing procedures
  • Hardware provisioning workflows
  • Quality assurance methodologies
  • Factory configuration processes

These proprietary processes enable us to deliver a working, tested product but do not restrict your ownership or use of the device in any way.

Your Rights

When you purchase a HOMESERVER, you receive:

✓ Full root access to the operating system
✓ Complete source code access via GitHub
✓ Right to modify any software component
✓ Right to distribute modifications per component licenses
✓ No restrictions on personal or commercial use (except BSL commercial restrictions during initial 3-year period)
✓ No telemetry, no tracking, no phone-home requirements

GitHub Repositories

All HOMESERVER LLC code is publicly available:

Main Website Repository:
https://github.com/homeserversltd/website

System Components:
https://github.com/homeserversltd

You may inspect, fork, modify, and contribute to any repository according to its license terms.

Contributing

We welcome contributions to HOMESERVER LLC projects:

  • Submit issues for bugs or feature requests
  • Fork repositories and submit pull requests
  • Improve documentation
  • Share your custom tabs and extensions

All contributions are subject to the project’s license terms.

Acknowledgements

HOMESERVER exists because of the incredible open-source community. We are deeply grateful to the developers, maintainers, and contributors of every project that makes this platform possible. Without their dedication to open-source software, HOMESERVER would not exist.

We are currently working on a comprehensive Acknowledgements page that will properly credit every open-source project, library, and dependency that powers HOMESERVER. This will include direct links to each project’s repository, documentation, and contribution guidelines.

To the open-source community: Thank you for building the foundation that allows us to create infrastructure for digital sovereignty. Your work enables others to escape surveillance capitalism and own their digital lives.

License Compliance

By using HOMESERVER, you agree to:

  • Comply with all open-source licenses of included software
  • Respect copyleft requirements (share source if you distribute GPL code)
  • Not use BSL 1.1 code for competing commercial products during the BSL period
  • Acknowledge original authors when redistributing modified software

Questions About Licensing

For licensing questions or permissions beyond these terms:

Email: owner@arpaservers.com
GitHub Issues: https://github.com/homeserversltd/website/issues
Website: arpaservers.com

Summary

HOMESERVER licensing is designed to maximize your freedom while protecting our work during its early commercial life. Everything becomes fully open source eventually, and you maintain complete ownership and control of your device from day one.

This is infrastructure built on the shoulders of the open-source community, and we’re committed to contributing back.

HOMESERVER LLC – Building Infrastructure for Digital Sovereignty

HOMESERVER LLC
DBA: Home Servers
Registered Agent Address: 315 5th St Suite 202, Waterloo, IA 50703
Version 1.0 – October 14, 2025