License and Usage Terms

The Causal AI Scientist (CAIS) is released under the MIT License, which is a permissive open-source license that allows for both academic and commercial use.

MIT License

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 CausalNLP

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 This Means

The MIT License is one of the most permissive open-source licenses. Here’s what it allows:

Permissions

  • ✅ Commercial Use: You can use CAIS in commercial projects and products

  • ✅ Modification: You can modify the source code to suit your needs

  • ✅ Distribution: You can distribute copies of CAIS

  • ✅ Private Use: You can use CAIS for private/internal projects

  • ✅ Sublicensing: You can include CAIS in projects with different licenses

Requirements

  • 📋 License and Copyright Notice: You must include the original license and copyright notice in any substantial portions of the software

  • 📋 Attribution: When distributing or using CAIS, you should provide appropriate attribution

Limitations

  • ❌ No Warranty: The software is provided “as is” without warranty

  • ❌ No Liability: The authors are not liable for any damages or issues

  • ❌ No Trademark Rights: The license doesn’t grant trademark rights

Usage Guidelines

Academic and Research Use

  • CAIS is free to use in academic research and educational settings

  • Please cite CAIS in your publications (see Citation Information for formats)

  • Consider contributing improvements back to the community

  • Share your research findings with the CAIS community

Commercial Use

  • CAIS can be used in commercial products and services

  • No licensing fees or royalties are required

  • You can modify CAIS to meet your business needs

  • Consider contributing general improvements back to the project

  • Ensure compliance with the license terms in your distribution

Government and Non-Profit Use

  • CAIS is free for government agencies and non-profit organizations

  • Can be used for policy analysis, program evaluation, and research

  • Modifications for specific use cases are permitted

  • Consider sharing improvements that benefit the broader community

Open Source Projects

  • CAIS can be included in other open-source projects

  • Compatible with most other open-source licenses

  • Ensure license compatibility when combining with other software

  • Maintain proper attribution and license notices

Third-Party Dependencies

CAIS depends on several third-party libraries, each with their own licenses:

Core Dependencies

  • pandas - BSD 3-Clause License

  • numpy - BSD 3-Clause License

  • scikit-learn - BSD 3-Clause License

  • scipy - BSD 3-Clause License

  • matplotlib - PSF License (Python Software Foundation)

LLM Integration Dependencies

  • openai - MIT License

  • anthropic - MIT License

  • requests - Apache 2.0 License

Documentation Dependencies

  • sphinx - BSD 2-Clause License

  • sphinx-rtd-theme - MIT License

  • jupyter - BSD 3-Clause License

Testing Dependencies

  • pytest - MIT License

  • pytest-cov - MIT License

  • black - MIT License

  • flake8 - MIT License

All dependencies are compatible with the MIT License and allow for the same freedoms.

Data and Model Licenses

Synthetic Data

  • All synthetic datasets generated by CAIS are released under the same MIT License

  • You can use, modify, and distribute synthetic data without restrictions

  • Synthetic data is generated algorithmically and doesn’t contain real personal information

Example Datasets

  • Real datasets used in examples and tutorials may have their own licenses

  • Check individual dataset documentation for specific license terms

  • Some datasets may have restrictions on commercial use or redistribution

  • Always verify dataset licenses before using in your projects

LLM Model Usage

  • CAIS integrates with external LLM providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)

  • Each provider has their own terms of service and usage policies

  • Users are responsible for compliance with LLM provider terms

  • API costs and usage limits are determined by the LLM providers

Contributing and License

Contributor License Agreement

By contributing to CAIS, you agree that:

  • Your contributions will be licensed under the same MIT License

  • You have the right to license your contributions

  • Your contributions are your original work or properly licensed

  • You understand the implications of the MIT License

Code Contributions

  • All code contributions must be compatible with the MIT License

  • Include appropriate license headers in new files

  • Ensure any new dependencies are MIT-compatible

  • Document any license considerations in pull requests

Documentation Contributions

  • Documentation contributions are licensed under the same MIT License

  • You retain copyright to your contributions

  • Contributions become part of the CAIS project under MIT License

  • Proper attribution is maintained in the project history

License Compliance

For Users

To comply with the MIT License when using CAIS:

  1. Include License Notice: Include the MIT License text in your distribution

  2. Maintain Copyright: Keep the original copyright notice

  3. Attribution: Provide appropriate attribution to the CAIS project

  4. No Warranty Claims: Don’t claim warranty or support from the original authors

For Distributors

If you distribute CAIS or products containing CAIS:

  1. License File: Include the full LICENSE file

  2. Copyright Notices: Maintain all copyright notices

  3. Attribution: Clearly attribute the CAIS project

  4. Dependency Licenses: Include licenses for all dependencies

For Modifiers

If you modify CAIS:

  1. Original License: Keep the original MIT License

  2. Modification Notice: Clearly indicate what you’ve modified

  3. New Copyright: You can add your own copyright for modifications

  4. Compatibility: Ensure modifications remain MIT-compatible

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use CAIS in my commercial product?

Yes, the MIT License explicitly allows commercial use without any licensing fees.

Do I need to open-source my modifications?

No, the MIT License doesn’t require you to open-source your modifications, though we encourage contributions back to the community.

Can I change the license of my modified version?

You can license your modifications under different terms, but the original CAIS code must remain under the MIT License.

What if I find a security vulnerability?

Please report security vulnerabilities responsibly by emailing cais-security@your-org.com rather than opening a public issue.

Can I remove the license notice?

No, the MIT License requires that the license and copyright notice be included in all substantial portions of the software.

What about patent rights?

The MIT License doesn’t explicitly grant patent rights, but it’s generally understood to include an implicit patent license for the software.

Contact for License Questions

If you have questions about licensing or usage terms:

  • Email: cais-legal@your-org.com

  • GitHub Issues: For general license questions

  • Legal Inquiries: For complex legal questions, consult with your legal team

Disclaimer: This documentation provides general guidance about the MIT License but is not legal advice. For specific legal questions, consult with a qualified attorney.

License History

  • Version 0.1.0+: MIT License (current)

  • Pre-release: Internal development license

The project has been under the MIT License since its first public release, ensuring consistency and clarity for all users and contributors.