> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.omi.me/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# License

> The Omi hardware design files are released under the MIT license.

## MIT License

All Omi hardware design files — including PCB schematics, Gerber files, Altium source, mechanical STEP files, BOM, assembly documentation, and packaging designs — are released under the **MIT License**.

This means you are free to:

* **Use** the designs for any purpose (personal, commercial, educational)
* **Modify** and adapt the designs
* **Distribute** copies of the original or modified designs
* **Manufacture** and sell products based on these designs

The only requirement is to include the copyright notice and license text.

***

## Full License Text

```
MIT License

Copyright (c) 2024 Based Hardware Contributors

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.
```

***

## What's Covered

| Category        | Files                                | License |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------- |
| PCB Electronics | Altium source, Gerbers, schematics   | MIT     |
| Mechanical      | STEP assemblies and parts            | MIT     |
| BOM             | Component list (CSV/XLSX)            | MIT     |
| Assembly Docs   | Photos, instructions                 | MIT     |
| Packaging       | CAD models, drawings                 | MIT     |
| Firmware        | Zephyr RTOS source (`omi/firmware/`) | MIT     |

***

## Use Cases

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Personal Build" icon="house">
    <Check>**Fully permitted.** Build as many as you want for personal use.</Check>

    No registration, no fees, no reporting. Modify freely. You own what you build.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Commercial Product" icon="store">
    <Check>**Fully permitted.** Manufacture and sell Omi-based products.</Check>

    You can set any price, keep modifications proprietary, and owe no royalties to Based Hardware.

    <Warning>You must include the MIT copyright notice and license text somewhere accessible (documentation, packaging insert, or source files). It does not need to be on the product itself.</Warning>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Crowdfunding" icon="rocket">
    <Check>**Fully permitted.** Use these designs for Kickstarter, Indiegogo, etc.</Check>

    You can use the open-source designs as your starting point and raise funds to manufacture. Include the MIT notice in your campaign documentation.

    <Tip>Being transparent about using an open-source base design often builds trust with backers.</Tip>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Open Source Fork" icon="code-branch">
    <Check>**Fully permitted.** Fork, modify, and redistribute under MIT or any other license.</Check>

    Unlike copyleft licenses, MIT does not require your derivatives to be open source. You choose the license for your modifications.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I sell devices based on this design?" icon="dollar-sign">
    **Yes.** The MIT license explicitly permits commercial use with no royalties, fees, or revenue sharing. Include the copyright notice.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I modify the designs?" icon="pen">
    **Yes.** Change anything — add sensors, remove features, redesign the enclosure, swap materials. No restrictions on modifications.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need to open-source my changes?" icon="code-branch">
    **No.** Unlike copyleft (GPL, CERN-OHL-S), MIT does not require you to share your modifications. Keep them proprietary if you prefer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use the Omi brand name?" icon="tag">
    **No.** Trademark rights are separate from the MIT license. The design files are open source, but the "Omi" name and branding belong to Based Hardware. Use your own branding.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use this for a university/research project?" icon="graduation-cap">
    **Yes.** Academic, educational, and research use is fully permitted. Cite the repository in your publications.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What about patents?" icon="shield">
    The MIT license covers copyright, not patents. Based Hardware has not filed hardware patents on the Omi Consumer design. However, some components (nRF5340, etc.) may be covered by their manufacturers' patents — this is standard for commercial IC usage.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>