Licensing and optional backends
Collectra’s own code is licensed under Apache-2.0. Dependencies, model weights, remote services, and input collections retain their own licences and terms. The project’s licence does not replace those terms.
Installation choices
pip install collectra installs the core without Ultralytics or drawyolo.
pip install "collectra[yolo]" adds both for YOLO tasks and previews.
The lockfile records optional packages too; their presence there does not mean
that a default installation installs them.
Component |
Code licence |
What to check |
|---|---|---|
Ultralytics YOLO |
AGPL-3.0, or separately negotiated commercial terms |
The optional YOLO integration combines with Ultralytics. Installing an extra does not exempt that combination from applicable AGPL obligations. |
drawyolo |
Apache-2.0 |
Also depends on Ultralytics, so it belongs in the YOLO extra. |
RF-DETR |
Apache-2.0 for the open-source package |
Select Apache-designated models; Plus components have separate terms. |
Torchvision / Transformers |
BSD / Apache-2.0 |
Review the licence of each downloaded checkpoint separately. |
Surya |
Version-dependent; 0.17.0 declares GPL-3.0-or-later code |
Not installed by default. Its model weights have separate terms. Newer upstream code advertises Apache-2.0 but also changes the API; it is not automatically a drop-in replacement for Collectra’s integration. |
pywebview |
BSD |
The selected GUI backend has additional terms. PyQt is GPLv3 or commercial; it is not LGPL. Native backends and PySide have different terms that must be checked for the target platform and bundled modules. |
See the upstream sources for Ultralytics, RF-DETR, Surya 0.17.0, current Surya, PyQt, and pywebview backend options. Licences can change between versions; check the versions being distributed.
Distribution and contributions
Preserve applicable dependency licences, copyright notices, and NOTICE files when redistributing third-party software. A bundled desktop application or container needs a review of its actual contents, including native libraries and model files. The backend table is guidance, not a complete third-party notice inventory or legal clearance of a release.
The default installation still contains dependencies with their own obligations, including file-level copyleft licences such as MPL. Excluding YOLO does not mean every installed file is Apache-2.0, or settle the legal status of the integration code distributed with Collectra.
Before a release, maintainers should confirm the provenance of copied or adapted code and the rights of contributors and their employers. Changes to licensing or contribution terms require the relevant copyright holders’ authority. Any proposed contributor agreement should be reviewed by the institution.
For pipelines intended for redistribution, record the model’s source, version, licence and any required attribution alongside the pipeline. Include the terms for fine-tuned weights where applicable. Software licensing does not replace permissions needed for collection images, annotations, or hosted model services.
Bundled GUI assets
The GUI ships local copies of Annotorious, Cytoscape, Dagre, cytoscape-dagre,
Bootswatch/Bootstrap, EasyMDE, Font Awesome, and Source Sans Pro, in addition to
OpenSeadragon. Version and source information is recorded in
collectra/gui/vendor/manifest.json. Each dependency’s licence is included
beside its assets. Bootswatch’s remote font import is replaced with local font
files, and EasyMDE’s automatic Font Awesome download is disabled.