Licensing — LVChat

GNU AGPL-3.0

The GNU Affero General Public License v3 is one of the strongest copyleft licenses in open source. It ensures that LVChat — and any modifications you deploy — remain free and open for everyone.

What This Means

Free to use for any purpose — commercial or non-commercial
Full source code always available to everyone
Modify and redistribute under the same license
Network use clause ensures hosted modifications remain open
No CLA traps — contributions accepted under the Developer Certificate of Origin

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The Network Use Clause

Unlike the standard GPL, the AGPL's Section 13 requires that if you run a modified version of LVChat over a network (i.e., as a hosted service), you must offer the complete corresponding source code to all users interacting with it.

This means no one can take LVChat, modify it, and run it as a proprietary hosted service. The freedom is preserved for all users.

Built-In License Server

LVChat includes a licensing server for managing commercial module licenses and SaaS deployments.

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License Key Management

Generate, validate, and revoke license keys for commercial modules and extensions. The licensing server handles the full lifecycle.

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SaaS Billing Integration

The optional billing module connects to the license server for plan-based metering with Stripe, PayPal, and BTCPay Server. Monetize your deployment.

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Module Ecosystem

Third-party modules may carry their own licenses, enabling a healthy ecosystem of both open-source and commercial extensions.

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Update Verification

The built-in update system verifies license status before delivering updates to commercial modules and desktop clients.

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Self-Hosted Control

Run the licensing server on your own infrastructure. No third-party licensing service, no data leaving your server.

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Activation Tracking

See which instances have activated which modules, track usage patterns, and manage compliance from the admin dashboard.

What's AGPL, What's Not

The core application and all bundled modules are AGPL-3.0. Third-party modules may carry their own licenses.

Component	License	Notes
Core Application	AGPL-3.0	The full LVChat server, web app, and all APIs
WebRTC Voice Module	AGPL-3.0	Bundled with the core, voice and video calls
Module System	AGPL-3.0	The plugin architecture and API
Desktop Clients	AGPL-3.0	Electron wrappers around the web app
Messenger Clients	AGPL-3.0	IM-first web and desktop clients
Third-Party Modules	Varies	May be AGPL, MIT, Apache, or commercial — check individual licenses

Developer Certificate of Origin

No Contributor License Agreement (CLA) required
Contributions accepted under the DCO — sign off your commits with git commit -s
You retain copyright on your contributions
No corporate CLA traps — your code stays yours

Open Source, Truly