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Is GNU Lesser GPL v3.0 compatible with BSD 3-Clause License?

Yes — but the combined work must be released under the more restrictive license.

GNU Lesser GPL v3.0 is a file-level (or library-level) copyleft license. You can include GNU Lesser GPL v3.0 files in a BSD 3-Clause License project; the GNU Lesser GPL v3.0 files retain their copyleft obligation (changes must be released), while the project at large can stay BSD 3-Clause License. Keep file boundaries clear.

About these licenses

LicenseFamilyPatent grant
GNU Lesser GPL v3.0 (LGPL-3.0) weak-copyleft Yes
BSD 3-Clause License (BSD-3-Clause) permissive No (implicit at most)

GNU Lesser GPL v3.0: Same library-linking permission as LGPL-2.1, with GPLv3's patent provisions inherited.

BSD 3-Clause License: Three-clause BSD: like 2-clause plus a no-endorsement clause.

What to do next

If you found this page because you're trying to figure out whether shipping a particular dependency is safe, the answer above is a starting point — not a substitute for reading the actual licenses or talking to a lawyer when stakes are high.

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