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      <div class="breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a> » <a href="/licenses">Licenses</a></div>

      <h1 property="dc:title">Vim License</h1>
      <div style="display:none;"><code property="spdx:deprecated">false</code></div>
      <h2>Full name</h2>
          <p style="margin-left: 20px;"><code property="spdx:name">Vim License</code></p>

      <h2>Short identifier</h2>
          <p style="margin-left: 20px;"><code property="spdx:licenseId">Vim</code></p>

      <h2>Other web pages for this license</h2>
          <div style="margin-left: 20px;">
            <ul>
             <li>
               <a href="http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html" rel="rdfs:seeAlso" isValid=true isLive=true isWayBackLink=false match=true timestamp=2025-07-01T14:57:24Z>http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html</a>
               <!--Tentative way of displaying information <p>isValid: true, isLive: true, isWayBackLink: false, match: true, timestamp: 2025-07-01T14:57:24Z</p> -->
             </li>
           </ul>
          </div>

      <div property="spdx:isOsiApproved" style="display: none;">false</div>

      <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2>
          <p style="margin-left: 20px;">None</p>

      <h2 id="licenseText">Text</h2>
      
      <blockquote cite="https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/v2.3/license-matching-guidelines-and-templates/">
          <div style="border: 2px solid grey; padding: 8px">
		      Text in italicized blue is omittable (see <a href="https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/v2.3/license-matching-guidelines-and-templates/#b35-guideline-omittable-text">Matching Guidelines B.3.5</a>).
		      License or exception text will match to the text for the specified identifier if it either includes or excludes this omittable text.
			  <br/>
			  <br/>
			  Text in red is replaceable (see <a href="https://spdx.github.io/spdx-spec/v2.3/license-matching-guidelines-and-templates/#b34-guideline-replaceable-text">Matching Guidelines B.3.4</a>).
			  License or exception text will match to the text for the specified identifier if it includes a permitted variant of this replaceable text.
			  The permitted variants can be found in the corresponding regular expression as shown in title text visible by hovering over the red text.
	      </div>
	  </blockquote>

      <div property="spdx:licenseText" class="license-text">
      
      <div class="optional-license-text"> 
         <p>VIM LICENSE</p>

      </div>

<ul style="list-style:none">
        
<li>
            <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> I)</span></var>
          There are no restrictions on distributing unmodified copies of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> except that they must include
             this license text. You can also distribute unmodified parts of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>, likewise unrestricted
             except that they must include this license text. You are also allowed to include executables
             that you made from the unmodified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> sources, plus your own usage examples and Vim
             scripts.
        </li>
        
<li>
            <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> II)</span></var>
          It is allowed to distribute a modified (or extended) version of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>, including executables and/or
             source code, when the following four conditions are met:
          
<ul style="list-style:none">
               
<li>
                  <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> 1)</span></var>
              This license text must be included unmodified.
            </li>
               
<li>
                  <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> 2)</span></var>
              The modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> must be distributed in one of the following five ways:
              
<ul style="list-style:none">
                     
<li>
                        <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> a)</span></var>
                  If you make changes to <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> yourself, you must clearly describe in the distribution how to contact
                    you. When the maintainer asks you (in any way) for a copy of the modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> you distributed,
                    you must make your changes, including source code, available to the maintainer without fee.
                    The maintainer reserves the right to include your changes in the official version of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>. What
                    the maintainer will do with your changes and under what license they will be distributed is
                    negotiable. If there has been no negotiation then this license, or a later version, also
                    applies to your changes. The current maintainer is Bram Moolenaar &lt;Bram@vim.org&gt;. If
                    this changes it will be announced in appropriate places (most likely vim.sf.net, www.vim.org
                    and/or comp.editors). When it is completely impossible to contact the maintainer, the
                    obligation to send him your changes ceases. Once the maintainer has confirmed that he has
                    received your changes they will not have to be sent again.
                </li>
                     
<li>
                        <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> b)</span></var>
                  If you have received a modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> that was distributed as mentioned under a) you are allowed to
                    further distribute it unmodified, as mentioned at I). If you make additional changes the text
                    under a) applies to those changes.
                </li>
                     
<li>
                        <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> c)</span></var>
                  Provide all the changes, including source code, with every copy of the modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> you
                    distribute. This may be done in the form of a context diff. You can choose what license to use
                    for new code you add. The changes and their license must not restrict others from making their
                    own changes to the official version of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>.
                </li>
                     
<li>
                        <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> d)</span></var>
                  When you have a modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> which includes changes as mentioned under c), you can distribute it
                    without the source code for the changes if the following three conditions are met:
                  
<ul style="list-style:none">
                           
<li>
                              <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> -</span></var>
                      The license that applies to the changes permits you to distribute the changes to the Vim
                        maintainer without fee or restriction, and permits the Vim maintainer to include the changes
                        in the official version of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> without fee or restriction.
                    </li>
                           
<li>
                              <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> -</span></var>
                      You keep the changes for at least three years after last distributing the corresponding modified
                        <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>. When the maintainer or someone who you distributed the modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> to asks you (in any
                        way) for the changes within this period, you must make them available to him.
                    </li>
                           
<li>
                              <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> -</span></var>
                      You clearly describe in the distribution how to contact you. This contact information must remain
                        valid for at least three years after last distributing the corresponding modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>, or as
                        long as possible.
                    </li>
                        
</ul>
                     </li>
                     
<li>
                        <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> e)</span></var>
                  When the GNU General Public License (GPL) applies to the changes, you can distribute the modified
                    <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> under the GNU GPL version 2 or any later version.
                </li>
                  
</ul>
               </li>
               
<li>
                  <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> 3)</span></var>
              A message must be added, at least in the output of the &quot;:version&quot; command and in the intro
                screen, such that the user of the modified <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> is able to see that it was modified. When
                distributing as mentioned under 2)e) adding the message is only required for as far as this
                does not conflict with the license used for the changes.
            </li>
               
<li>
                  <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> 4)</span></var>
              The contact information as required under 2)a) and 2)d) must not be removed or changed, except
                that the person himself can make corrections.
            </li>
            
</ul>
        </li>
        
<li>
            <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> III)</span></var>
          If you distribute a modified version of <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var>, you are encouraged to use the Vim license for your
             changes and make them available to the maintainer, including the source code. The preferred
             way to do this is by e-mail or by uploading the files to a server and e-mailing the URL. If
             the number of changes is small (e.g., a modified Makefile) e-mailing a context diff will do.
             The e-mail address to be used is &lt;maintainer@vim.org&gt;
        </li>
        
<li>
            <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .{0,20}"> IV)</span></var>
          It is not allowed to remove this license from the distribution of the <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> sources, parts of it or
             from a modified version. You may use this license for previous <var class="replaceable-license-text"><span title="can be replaced with the pattern .+"> Vim</span></var> releases instead of the
             license that they came with, at your option.
        </li>
      
</ul>
    
      </div>

      <h2  id="licenseHeader">Standard License Header</h2>
      <div property="spdx:standardLicenseHeader" class="license-text">
        <p style="font-style: italic">There is no standard license header for the license</p>
        
      </div>
      <div property="spdx:standardLicenseTemplate" style="display: none;">
      &lt;&lt;beginOptional&gt;&gt;VIM LICENSE&#10;&#10;&lt;&lt;endOptional&gt;&gt;&#10;   &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;I)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; There are no restrictions on distributing unmodified copies of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; except that they must include this license text. You can also distribute unmodified parts of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; , likewise unrestricted except that they must include this license text. You are also allowed to include executables that you made from the unmodified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; sources, plus your own usage examples and Vim scripts.&#10;   &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;II)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; It is allowed to distribute a modified (or extended) version of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; , including executables and/or source code, when the following four conditions are met:&#10;      &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;1)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; This license text must be included unmodified.&#10;      &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;2)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; The modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; must be distributed in one of the following five ways:&#10;         &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;a)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; If you make changes to &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; yourself, you must clearly describe in the distribution how to contact you. When the maintainer asks you (in any way) for a copy of the modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; you distributed, you must make your changes, including source code, available to the maintainer without fee. The maintainer reserves the right to include your changes in the official version of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; . What the maintainer will do with your changes and under what license they will be distributed is negotiable. If there has been no negotiation then this license, or a later version, also applies to your changes. The current maintainer is Bram Moolenaar &lt;Bram@vim.org&gt;. If this changes it will be announced in appropriate places (most likely vim.sf.net, www.vim.org and/or comp.editors). When it is completely impossible to contact the maintainer, the obligation to send him your changes ceases. Once the maintainer has confirmed that he has received your changes they will not have to be sent again.&#10;         &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;b)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; If you have received a modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; that was distributed as mentioned under a) you are allowed to further distribute it unmodified, as mentioned at I). If you make additional changes the text under a) applies to those changes.&#10;         &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;c)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; Provide all the changes, including source code, with every copy of the modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; you distribute. This may be done in the form of a context diff. You can choose what license to use for new code you add. The changes and their license must not restrict others from making their own changes to the official version of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; .&#10;         &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;d)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; When you have a modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; which includes changes as mentioned under c), you can distribute it without the source code for the changes if the following three conditions are met:&#10;            &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;-&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; The license that applies to the changes permits you to distribute the changes to the Vim maintainer without fee or restriction, and permits the Vim maintainer to include the changes in the official version of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; without fee or restriction.&#10;            &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;-&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; You keep the changes for at least three years after last distributing the corresponding modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; . When the maintainer or someone who you distributed the modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; to asks you (in any way) for the changes within this period, you must make them available to him.&#10;            &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;-&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; You clearly describe in the distribution how to contact you. This contact information must remain valid for at least three years after last distributing the corresponding modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; , or as long as possible.&#10;         &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;e)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; When the GNU General Public License (GPL) applies to the changes, you can distribute the modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; under the GNU GPL version 2 or any later version.&#10;      &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;3)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; A message must be added, at least in the output of the &quot;:version&quot; command and in the intro screen, such that the user of the modified &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; is able to see that it was modified. When distributing as mentioned under 2)e) adding the message is only required for as far as this does not conflict with the license used for the changes.&#10;      &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;4)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; The contact information as required under 2)a) and 2)d) must not be removed or changed, except that the person himself can make corrections.&#10;   &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;III)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; If you distribute a modified version of &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; , you are encouraged to use the Vim license for your changes and make them available to the maintainer, including the source code. The preferred way to do this is by e-mail or by uploading the files to a server and e-mailing the URL. If the number of changes is small (e.g., a modified Makefile) e-mailing a context diff will do. The e-mail address to be used is &lt;maintainer@vim.org&gt;&#10;   &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;bullet&quot;;original&#61;&quot;IV)&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.{0,20}&quot;&gt;&gt; It is not allowed to remove this license from the distribution of the &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; sources, parts of it or from a modified version. You may use this license for previous &lt;&lt;var;name&#61;&quot;softwareName&quot;;original&#61;&quot;Vim&quot;;match&#61;&quot;.+&quot;&gt;&gt; releases instead of the license that they came with, at your option.
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