BSD 3-Clause "New" License
Do whatever you want. Keep the copyright. Don't use the author's name to endorse your product.
Commercial use
✓ Yes
Modify
✓ Yes
Distribute
✓ Yes
Must open source changes
✗ No
Must attribute
✓ Yes
Patent grant
✗ No
What this license means
The BSD 3-Clause license is nearly identical to the MIT license with one extra clause: you cannot use the name of the original author or contributors to endorse or promote your product without permission. This 'no endorsement' clause is the only practical difference from MIT.
When you encounter this license
Functionally interchangeable with MIT for most projects. Used by Go, Django, Flask, and many academic projects. Choose BSD 3-Clause if you want the no-endorsement protection.
Watch out for
The 'no endorsement' clause rarely matters in practice. Compatible with GPL. Some organizations prefer MIT simply because it's shorter and more widely recognized.
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For licensing decisions in commercial products, consult a qualified attorney.