Free Contributor Agreement Generator
Create a contributor agreement with defined contributions, copyright licence, optional patents and authority checks. Edit clauses; export Word, HTML or PDF.
How to create your contributor agreement
Confirm the legal recipient, project, contribution scope, outbound licence, contributor authority, any patent grant and the actual acceptance/signature process.
- 01
Confirm the actual scope
Identify the responsible organisation, audience and contact routes. USA is an editable sample country; applicable requirements also depend on the activity and jurisdiction.
- 02
Tailor the examples
Open a section and keep or edit suitable model wording. Restore example resets only that field. Closing a section smoothly brings the next into view and preserves your answers. Applicable sample amounts use USD ($).
- 03
Review and export
Check the complete preview, selected options and required actual facts. Copy with formatting, download HTML or Word, or open Print / Save PDF. Every output includes a link to this exact generator.
- 04
Complete the appropriate private process
Give the complete information to the relevant person, explain the scope and questions, verify authority and complete decisions/signatures privately. Generation does not execute an agreement, licence, permission or waiver.
What your document covers
Parties and project → contribution scope → non-exclusive copyright licence → optional patent terms → authority, attribution and execution.
Contributor ownership is retained. Patent rights and entity authority appear only when selected; check the exact contribution scope, grant duration and outbound licence.
Scope, privacy and review
Review compatibility with the project’s outbound licence, employer rights and contributor type. This template retains ownership and does not automatically assign copyright, grant patents or confer trademark rights.
- Generation happens in this browser. Answers are not sent to a document-generation service or saved between visits; download before leaving.
- Use organisation-level information. Keep private identities, signatures, medical records, credentials and individual case information in your approved systems.
- Check actual facts, authority and applicable requirements. Generation does not test accessibility, establish employment status, obtain permission or guarantee enforceability.
Substantive update: 9 October 2026. No named professional review or legal certification is claimed.
Frequently asked questions
Is this free, and do I need an account?
Creating the document, formatted copy and HTML or Word downloads are free and require no account. Print / Save PDF uses the browser’s print dialog.
Does the contributor transfer ownership automatically?
No. The model copyright grant is non-exclusive and retains contributor ownership. A patent grant appears only if expressly selected and supplied. Any assignment, broader relicensing or employer authorisation needs a separate appropriate agreement or accurately reviewed terms.
Can I keep or edit the pre-filled wording?
Yes. Fields marked Editable example contain model wording and Restore example controls. USA is an editable sample country; applicable sample amounts use USD ($). Keep wording only if accurate, and supply actual scope, authority and factual arrangements.
Does generating the document sign it or obtain agreement?
No. Review the complete document and complete the appropriate private decision, authority checks and signature or acceptance process separately. Photography choices and event participation decisions remain blank. No contributor licence, volunteer agreement or liability release is executed by the generator.
Reference for your review
Apache Software Foundation: contributor agreements and authority. This is an example of contributor-agreement practice, not an Apache endorsement or a replacement for the project’s actual terms.