Which files fall under which license?
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Which files of the VST SDK fall under which license?
All files describing the VST 3 interface, located in the folder "pluginterfaces" of the SDK, and all Helper files (included in base and public.sdk folders) fall under the MIT license described previously.
Each of these files includes this text:
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// This file is part of a Steinberg SDK. It is subject to the license terms
// in the LICENSE file found in the top-level directory of this distribution
// and at www.steinberg.net/sdklicenses.
// No part of the SDK, including this file, may be copied, modified, propagated,
// or distributed except according to the terms contained in the LICENSE file.
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- for all other files of the VST SDK, the respective embedded license text is applicable, for example:
- all VSTGUI files fall under a BSD style license
- all mda-vst3 examples (public.sdk/samples/mda-vst3 folder) fall under a BSD style license: Copyright (c) 2008 Paul Kellett
What about VST 2?
The "Proprietary Steinberg VST 2" license, which is the VST 2 license agreement, allows you to distribute your VST 2 plug-in/host in a binary form. However, please note the following requirements:
- You need written permission from Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH in order to distribute your VST 2 plug-in/host (which had to be done before October 2018).
- You need to mention Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH in the about box and/or documentation of your VST 2 plug-in/host and follow the Steinberg VST usage guidelines.
- Note that from the first of October 2018, Steinberg does not accept any more submissions of license agreement for VST 2 plug-in/host! This means:
If you do not have a license agreement signed with Steinberg before October 2018, you are not allowed to distribute new VST 2 plug-ins or VST 2 hosts!