{
  "question": "MPL 2.0 vs LGPL 3.0: what is the difference?",
  "slug": "mpl-2-0-vs-lgpl-3-0",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/mpl-2-0-vs-lgpl-3-0",
  "short_answer": "MPL 2.0: commercial use, modification, redistribution: Yes. LGPL 3.0: the same uses: Yes.",
  "framing": "MPL 2.0: Use, modify and distribute, including in larger proprietary works; files covered by the MPL that you change and distribute must stay under the MPL with their source available. LGPL 3.0: Use the library in any program, including proprietary ones; changes to the library itself, when conveyed, stay under the LGPL with source, and users must be able to relink a modified version.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "MPL 2.0: commercial use, modification, redistribution",
      "license": "MPL-2.0",
      "license_name": "Mozilla Public License 2.0",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by MPL 2.0, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "license_notice",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/"
    },
    {
      "label": "LGPL 3.0: the same uses",
      "license": "LGPL-3.0-only",
      "license_name": "GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by LGPL 3.0, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.html"
    }
  ],
  "compatibility": {
    "licenses": [
      "MPL-2.0",
      "LGPL-3.0-only"
    ],
    "verdict": "compatible"
  },
  "compare": [
    {
      "license": "MPL-2.0",
      "duties": [
        "license_notice",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Copyleft applies file by file.",
        "Executable forms may be distributed under different terms if the source of covered files stays available under the MPL (section 3.2); general sublicensing is not documented."
      ]
    },
    {
      "license": "LGPL-3.0-only",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "The copyleft duties apply to the library and modified versions of it, not to an application that only links to it."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "context": [
    "The duties differ: compare the duties and notes listed for each license below."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Mozilla Public License 2.0: official text",
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/"
    },
    {
      "title": "MPL-2.0 on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/MPL-2.0.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0: official text",
      "url": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "LGPL-3.0-only on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/LGPL-3.0-only.html"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "MPL-2.0",
        "intended_use": {
          "commercial_use": true,
          "modification": true,
          "redistribution": true
        }
      }
    },
    "rest": "POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check"
  },
  "computed_from": "Rightshold license profiles at render time; not legal advice",
  "updated": "2026-10-19"
}