Smart Connections License
Last updated: 2026-02-23
This is the official license page for Smart Connections (Obsidian) and related Smart Plugins. The code is source available under the Smart Plugins License (not OSI open source).
If you are looking for the exact legal text: jump to Full license text.
If you are trying to answer "can I do X?": start with Scenario table.
Note: This page is informational and not legal advice.
License in one minute
Smart Connections is source available. That means:
- You can use, copy, modify, and redistribute the code.
- You cannot use the code as a substantial component of a general-purpose competing product/service for Obsidian (or similar apps) offered to multiple unrelated customers, when it would reasonably be viewed as a replacement for Smart Connections or other licensor offerings.
Most users installing and using the plugin are unaffected.
What this page covers (and what it does not)
This page covers the source code license (the Smart Plugins License).
Separate from that, using Plugins and Pro Plugins can also be governed by our Terms of Service (for example, Pro entitlements, license keys, and commercial-use rules for Pro features). If your question is about Pro subscriptions, license keys, or using Pro at work, read:
Why "source available" (not "open source")
This license includes a restriction designed to prevent direct, general-purpose competition in the Obsidian plugin market.
Open source licenses (OSI / Open Source Definition) do not allow restricting use in a specific field of endeavor (for example, prohibiting certain commercial use or competition). That is why this license is source available rather than OSI-approved open source.
References:
- https://opensource.org/osd
- https://opensource.org/faq
- https://www.linuxfoundation.org/licensebestpractices
What you can do (plain English)
You can generally:
- Use the plugin and code privately (personal use).
- Use it internally in a single organization.
- Modify the code for yourself.
- Share modified code, as long as you are not distributing a general-purpose competing Obsidian product/service as described in the restriction.
- Do bespoke, client-specific work that is not marketed/distributed as a general-purpose product to multiple unrelated customers.
What you cannot do (plain English)
You cannot use the Software (including modified versions) as a substantial component of a product/service that:
- is marketed for use with, or primarily interoperates with, Obsidian (or a substantially similar app), AND
- is offered as a general-purpose solution to multiple unrelated customers (free or paid), AND
- directly competes with a commercial offering of the licensor based on the Software that exists when you first make your product/service available.
If all three conditions apply, it is prohibited.
If you are unsure whether your use triggers all three conditions, email legal@smartconnections.app with a short description of what you are building.
Scenario table
This table is a practical guide to the license. It is not a substitute for the license text.
| Scenario | Allowed? | Why (in plain English) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install and use Smart Connections in Obsidian for personal notes | Yes | Private use is allowed | Just use it |
| Modify Smart Connections for your own use | Yes | Modification is allowed; private use is allowed | Keep your fork private if unsure |
| Use Smart Connections internally at a single company | Yes (code license) | Internal use within a single organization is explicitly not limited by the restriction | If using Pro features commercially, also check Terms of Service |
| Share your modified fork with a friend for personal use | Generally yes | Redistribution is allowed if it is not a general-purpose competing product/service | Include copyright + license notice |
| Publish a fork on GitHub for transparency/learning | Generally yes | Redistribution is allowed; restriction targets direct competing general-purpose offerings | Keep it clearly non-competing; include license notice |
| Sell a one-off custom build to a single client (not marketed as a general-purpose Obsidian product) | Yes | Bespoke/client-specific implementations are explicitly not limited | Include license notice; avoid general-purpose marketing |
| Offer a hosted service or subscription that is a general-purpose Obsidian plugin replacement using this code | No | This is the core prohibited case (general-purpose + multiple customers + competing) | Contact legal@smartconnections.app for licensing options |
| Distribute a fork that removes a paywall and market it broadly to Obsidian users | No (if it competes and is general-purpose) | Likely meets the prohibited conditions | Do not distribute as a general-purpose competing product/service |
| Reuse small ideas or patterns (not substantial code) in an unrelated project outside Obsidian ecosystem | Usually yes | The restriction is scoped to substantial component use + Obsidian (or similar) competition | When in doubt, ask |
| Build tooling that interoperates with Smart Connections but does not embed this code as a substantial component | Usually yes | The restriction targets substantial component use of the Software | Prefer integration over copying code |
FAQ
Is Smart Connections open source?
Not under the OSI definition. The Smart Plugins License is source available: the source is available for auditing and modification, but it includes a restriction on certain competitive uses.
Where is the "source of truth" for the license text?
The authoritative legal text is the license itself as published in the repositories and mirrored on this page. If there is any mismatch, the repository LICENSE file controls for that repository.
Why include a competitive-use restriction at all?
The goal is to keep the code available for auditing and modification, while preventing direct, general-purpose competitors from using the project as a free substrate to replace the licensor's own commercial offerings.
Can I fork Smart Connections?
Yes, forks are allowed. The restriction is about how a fork is used and distributed:
- Private forks are fine.
- Internal forks inside a single organization are fine.
- Public forks are generally fine if they are not used as a general-purpose competing product/service for Obsidian offered to multiple unrelated customers.
Can I redistribute my fork?
Yes, redistribution is allowed if you comply with the license notice requirements and you are not violating the competitive-use restriction.
The license says I can "sell copies" - but also restricts some selling. Is that a contradiction?
No. The license grants broad rights, including selling copies, and then narrows those rights in a specific, defined competitive scenario (general-purpose Obsidian competitor offered to multiple unrelated customers that competes with licensor offerings). Outside that restricted scenario, selling can still be permitted.
Does this license change what normal users can do?
For typical users who install and use the plugin in Obsidian: no. The restriction is aimed at redistribution and commercialization in the specific competing scenario described above.
I want to use Pro features at work. Is that covered here?
This page is about the source code license. Pro subscription use (including "Commercial Use") is governed by the Terms of Service:
What about contributions and relicensing concerns?
Inbound contributions are expected to be provided under the repository's license (inbound = outbound). If a contributor believes their code is mislicensed or should be removed, contact legal@smartconnections.app and we will promptly resolve it (for example, remove or rewrite disputed code) and document the resolution.
License history (short timeline)
This section exists because many people come to this page to validate "what changed" and "when".
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | License changed as part of the v4 merge commit | Repository history shows the change occurred in commit f411b3e as part of the Smart Connections v4 merge |
| 2026-01-15 | Terms of Service updated (Core vs Pro, license keys, commercial use add-on) | This governs Service usage terms and is separate from the source code license |
| 2026-01-28 to 2026-01-30 | Community discussions raised concerns about communication + open-source wording | Going forward, license/pricing model changes will be called out in release notes and reflected on this page |
| 2026-02-23 | This canonical license page published | Goal: one stable, official reference for users, developers, and businesses |
Machine-readable identifier (recommended)
If you need a stable label for internal compliance tooling:
- License name: Smart Plugins License Agreement
- Suggested identifier: LicenseRef-SmartPlugins-1.0
- Canonical URL: https://smartconnections.app/legal/license/
(If you maintain a repository that uses this license, consider using the identifier consistently in headers and documentation.)
Full license text
# Smart Plugins License Agreement
Copyright (c) 2025, Jobsi, Inc.
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:
1. The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
2. No licensee or downstream recipient may use the Software (including any modified or derivative versions) as a substantial component of any product or service that:
(a) is marketed for use with, or primarily interoperates with, Obsidian or any substantially similar note-taking or knowledge-management application; and
(b) is offered as a general-purpose solution to multiple unrelated customers (whether for a fee or free of charge); and
(c) directly competes with any commercial offering of the Licensor based on the Software that exists at the time such product or service is first made available to third parties, meaning a typical target user would reasonably view it as a replacement or alternative because it provides substantially the same core functionality.
This restriction does not limit private use, internal use within a single organization, or bespoke or client-specific implementations (including for a fee) that are not marketed or distributed as a general-purpose product or service to multiple unrelated customers.
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.
Contact
Questions about licensing: legal@smartconnections.app