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license-checker

Assess Python package license compatibility using SPDX data.

36|76|Updated Dec 3, 2025
Search Tags:#open source#python#compliance#license#legal#spdx#redistribution
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/opendatahub-io/ai-helpers --skill license-checker
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: license-checker
Source: https://github.com/opendatahub-io/ai-helpers/tree/main/claude-plugins/python-packaging/skills/license-checker
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/opendatahub-io/ai-helpers --skill license-checker

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Navigating the complexities of open-source licenses for Python package redistribution can be daunting, risking non-compliance. This Skill automates license compatibility checks against the authoritative SPDX database, providing clear guidance and reducing legal risk.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • SPDX License Lookup: Fetches real-time license data from SPDX.org to ensure accuracy and up-to-date information on license terms.
  • Compatibility Assessment: Evaluates licenses for redistribution, commercial use, and wheel building, classifying risk as Low, Medium, or High for enterprise environments.
  • Detailed Requirements: Outlines specific compliance obligations for licenses (e.g., weak copyleft like LGPL or MPL), ensuring you meet all necessary conditions.
  • Red Hat Context: Provides special considerations for packages with dependencies covered by Red Hat's vendor agreements (NVIDIA, Intel Gaudi, IBM Spyre), offering tailored advice.
  • Use Case: Before including a new Python library in an enterprise product, you need to verify its license. You can ask Claude, "Check the redistribution compatibility of the 'GPL-3.0-only' license for a Python package."

Quick Start

Assess the compatibility of the 'Apache-2.0' license for Python package redistribution.

Frequently Asked Questions about license-checker

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I check if a Python package license is compliant for redistribution?▼

License compliance for Python package redistribution is assessed by matching the package's license identifier against the SPDX database, evaluating OSI approval and FSF Libre status, and classifying redistribution risk as Low, Medium, or High. This Skill automates that matching and provides detailed compatibility guidance for enterprise environments.

What does SPDX license matching mean and why does it matter?▼

SPDX license matching identifies licenses using exact, case-insensitive, and fuzzy matching against authoritative SPDX identifiers, names, and aliases. It matters because accurate license identification prevents redistribution violations and ensures compliance obligations are correctly understood before including packages in products.

Can I use a GPL or LGPL licensed Python package in a commercial product?▼

GPL and LGPL licenses permit commercial use but impose copyleft obligations—GPL requires source disclosure for derivative works, while LGPL (weak copyleft) allows proprietary linking if the library itself remains accessible. This Skill classifies the specific risk level and outlines required actions for your redistribution scenario.

How do I verify license compatibility before building Python wheels for enterprise distribution?▼

Wheel-building compatibility is verified by checking the package license against SPDX data, confirming OSI approval status, evaluating commercial-use permissions, and assessing weak-copyleft obligations like LGPL and MPL. This Skill fetches current SPDX data and outputs structured compatibility assessment with required actions.

What license information does SPDX provide beyond just the license name?▼

SPDX data includes license identifiers, full names, OSI approval status, FSF Libre classification, deprecation flags, official references, and related license aliases. This Skill retrieves and analyzes all these fields to classify risk and provide complete redistribution guidance for Python packages.

Does this Skill account for Red Hat vendor agreements when assessing license compliance?▼

Yes. This Skill provides Red Hat-specific context for packages with dependencies covered by vendor agreements (NVIDIA, Intel Gaudi, IBM Spyre), offering tailored compliance advice that reflects special licensing arrangements in enterprise environments.

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