About File Templates

Abouts contain legal documentation and are maintained in the source code repository and subsequently included in builds in Eclipse Platform Plug-in and Fragments and other directories. They usually contain information about licensing and sometimes also information about any use of cryptography. By convention, every Eclipse Platform Plug-in and Fragment usually has an About.

About files are generally only applicable for content that that is delivered as Eclipse Platform Plug-ins and Fragments. For more information, please see The Eclipse Project Handbook

All Abouts will be reviewed and approved by the EMO during the Release Review for your project.

If you have any questions, please send an email to license@eclipse-foundation.org.

There are two About file templates that committers can choose from. The first one is for plug-ins where all of the content is to be licensed under the Eclipse Public License (EPL). If all the content in an Eclipse Platform Plug-in or Fragment, directory or module can be correctly licensed under the EPL then this simple (short) template can be used without modification.

The second template should be used when at least some of the content of the Eclipse Platform Plug-in or Fragment is licensed under a license other than the EPL. When using this longer template, your Abouts should be reviewed and approved by the relevant PMC, who can also assist committers with drafting an About.

If your project content makes use of Cryptography, please send an email to license@eclipse-foundation.org to request assistance in creating the About file.

About File Template for EPL 2.0 Content

Here is a relatively simple template about.html file that should suffice in most cases where the plug-in contains all Eclipse project-produced EPL 2.0 code.

For further information on the use of Abouts, and how these files should be included in your software distribution, please read the relevant section in the Legal Documentation for Eclipse Platform Plug-ins and Fragments (under the EPL-2.0).

About File Template for EPL 1.0 Content

Here is a relatively simple template about.html file that should suffice in most cases where the plug-in contains all Eclipse project-produced EPL 1.0 code.

For further information on the use of Abouts, and how these files should be included in your software distribution, please read the relevant section in the Guide to Legal Documentation under the EPL 1.0.

Third-Party Content About File Template for EPL 2.0

Here is an template about.html file that contains third-party content.

Third-Party Content About File Template for EPL 1.0

Here is an template about.html file that contains third-party content.