Yes, if you plan to use Color Thief in a commercial project, there are a few key points from its MIT License that you need to be mindful of:
MIT License Overview
The MIT License is a permissive open-source license with very minimal requirements. Here's what it means in your case:
Preservation of Copyright Notice:
- You must include the copyright notice from the original library in your project.
- This is typically included in your project's documentation or attribution files (like a
LICENSE or README file).
Preservation of License Notice:
- The MIT License text must also be included, ensuring anyone using your project can see the license terms under which the library is distributed.
No Restrictions on Use:
- You are free to use the library for both personal and commercial purposes, modify it, and distribute it as part of a larger work, even under a different license.
Attribution Requirements
The original author of Color Thief, Lokesh Dhakar, should be credited. A simple attribution could look like this:
In your LICENSE or README file:
This project uses the Color Thief library (https://github.com/lokesh/color-thief) by Lokesh Dhakar, licensed under the MIT License.
Optionally, in your application's "About" section or footer (if you have one), you can include:
<p>Powered by <a href="https://github.com/lokesh/color-thief" target="_blank">Color Thief</a></p>
What You Don't Need to Do
- No Royalties:
- You don’t need to pay any fees to use the library, even commercially.
- No Approval:
- You don’t need the author's explicit permission to use it.
- No Source Code Distribution:
- You are not required to share your project's source code, even if it incorporates the library.
Practical Steps for Commercial Use
Include the License in Your Project:
- Copy the MIT license file from the Color Thief repository into your project.
- Ensure it is accessible, typically in a
LICENSE file.
Mention the Library in Your Documentation:
- Clearly state that your project uses Color Thief, and include a link to its GitHub repository.
Add Attribution (Optional but Recommended):
- For transparency, you might consider including a visible acknowledgment, such as in the footer of your website or app.
By following these steps, you’ll comply with the MIT License requirements while using Color Thief in your commercial project.
