Open Source IF
Open Source IF is interactive fiction that is released together with its source code. This allows other authors to study the source code and see how things were done. Unlike free software, open source software does not necessarily allow you to modify and redistribute the work. (It should be noted that this terminological difference is not universally accepted, as some people and organisations use open source software as a synonym of free software.) Free software Interactive Fiction will not be listed below, since it already has its own page.
Interactive Fiction released as Open Source Software
Creative Commons Licenses
Although the Creative Commons licenses have not been specifically designed for software, they have nevertheless been used for several Interactive Fiction programs.
This license allows you to redistribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor, do not use it for commercial purposes, and release it under this same license.
- The Chinese Room by Joey Jones and Harry Giles.
Home-brew Licenses
These programs are released under licenses that the author's have written themselves. As such, details may vary and a careful reading of the license text is necessary.
Licenses that do no allow derivative works
- Chicks Dig Jerks by Robb Sherwin.
- Augmented Fourth by Brian Uri (not entirely clear about the issue of derivative works).
No Licensing Information
There are quite a lot of source code files on the IF Archive that do not come with any licensing information. As such, it is better not to assume that you can use this source code for your own works, unless you get explicit permission from the authors.
- The Inform port (by Donald Ekman, David M. Baggett and Graham Nelson) of Adventure by Will Crowther and Don Woods.
- The Inform port (by Graham Nelson) of Adventureland by Scott Adams.
- Cattus Atrox by David Cornelson.
- Journey to Alpha Centauri (In Real Time) by Julian Fleetwood.
- A Tight Spot by Quim K. Holland.