Skip to content

Producer Terms

(Last updated on March 31, 2026)

Introduction⚓︎

Welcome to the Maven Central Repository ("Central"), a software component repository where developers can make their projects' binaries. source bundles, and other materials available for download by users.

Sonatype, Inc. ("Sonatype" or "us" or "we") has historically provided Central to the public as a free community service for all and has paid all hosting and bandwidth costs associated with maintaining Central. But, as stated in the Open Letter from the Stewards of Public Open Source Infrastructure, open source packaging ecosystems such as Central are moving toward a more sustainable model to ensure that they remain strong, secure, and open to all.

To this end, and in order to strengthen the resilience of Central and remain consistent with Central's original intended purpose (distribution of open source software), we are taking steps to strike a balance between usage of and funding for Central by adopting a practical and sustainable approach that better aligns usage and costs. The focus of this approach is not to close or in any way restrict access to Central for anyone; but, rather, to ensure responsible investing in the sustainable future of Central.

In order to move toward a sustainable future, publishing on Central will now be governed by the Publisher Tiers that include free and paid access, as further described below. Moreover, components that are commercial in nature, or whose intended use requires proprietary software or commercial services (including service-dependent SDKs), will be subject to additional publishing fees beyond the applicable Tiers. Specifically:

  • Central has adopted a tiered publisher model (each tier a "Publisher Tier") governing the publishing of Materials to Central. This Publisher Tier model is consistent with Central's original intended purpose and maintains openness and sustainability for continued general use of Central by producers of Materials.
  • Publishing Materials at reasonable levels (as determined by Sonatype at its discretion) will continue to be at no cost to the publisher (the "Free Publisher Tier")
  • High-volume publishers of Materials will have the option to: (a) reduce their publishing levels to the Free Publisher Tier; or (b) continue publishing Materials to Central at levels that exceed the Free Publisher Tier for a fee (the "Paid Publisher Tiers").
  • In addition to the Publisher Tiers, Central now distinguishes between Materials that are published by (a) open source projects that make software available to the public under open source licenses without additional use constraints, and (b) publishing that is commercial in nature or that includes required dependencies on proprietary software or commercial services (e.g., service-dependent SDKs) ("Commercial Use"), which Commercial Use may be subject to fees in addition to any fees related to the applicable Paid Publishing Tier.

Any and all use of Central is subject to the Central Repository Terms of Service (the "Central ToS") and, if you do decide to make publish Materials to Central, you will also be subject to the Central Publisher Terms (the "Publisher Terms") set forth below.

The Materials that you publish to Central for download by users of Central, subject to the Publisher Tiers, will be licensed by you to users who wish to consume those Materials subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable license, as further set forth in the Central ToS (as defined below). You hereby grant us a license to distribute such Materials to the public via Central pursuant to these Publisher Terms and the Central ToS, and such Materials may be mirrored to other locations for redundancy and backup purposes.

You are and will remain responsible for the Materials that you publish to Central. The Materials that you publish to Central are static once published and will not be changed or removed unless (a) they violate third party intellectual property rights, (b) you or the Materials violate these Publisher Terms and/or the Central ToS, (c) the Materials are otherwise harmful to users, (d) we receive a request from law enforcement or government agencies to remove the Materials, (e) you engage in any Abusive Actions and/or fraudulent or illegal activities, (f) Sonatype determines, in its sole discretion, that removal is appropriate, and/or (g) removed by us in accordance with our rights pursuant to these Publisher Terms and/or the Central ToS.

Questions and concerns not related to intellectual property rights may be submitted to Central Support and questions and concerns related to intellectual property rights (including copyright violations) may be submitted as set forth in the Central ToS.

Materials published to Central must meet minimum standards in terms of metadata and other quality criteria that are determined by Sonatype and may adjusted from time to time. These quality standards are intended to improve everyone's experience and ability to use Central and the Materials. The standards and guides to achieve the standards are documented in the requirements page, which may be amended by Sonatype at its discretion.

1. Acceptance of Terms⚓︎

All use of Central is subject to the Central ToS. If you elect to publish Materials to Central, then you agree to the Central ToS, these Publisher Terms, and all other policies, standards, guidelines or notices posted by us on our websites.

Any capitalized terms not defined in these Publisher Terms will have the meaning given to them in the Central ToS. In the event of a direct conflict between the Central ToS and these Publisher Terms, the Publisher Terms will control solely as related publishing Materials.

If you do not agree to the Central ToS and these Publisher Terms, you may not publish Materials to Central. We may change the Central ToS and/or these Publisher Terms at any time without any notice to you including, without limitation, changes made as required by legislation of for other compliance reasons as we deem necessary or appropriate. It is your responsibility to review the Central ToS and these Publisher Terms from time to time for any changes as such changes create a new binding legal agreement between you and Sonatype. If you use publish Materials to Central after we've changed any of the Central ToS or these Publisher Terms, you are agree to all of the changes. Again, if you do not agree, do not use Central.

2. Accounts, Passwords and Security⚓︎

You may need to set up an account to publish Materials to Central. You may not use someone else's account without permission. When you are setting up your account, you must give us accurate and complete information. This means that you cannot set up an account using someone else's name or contact information, or a fake name or fake contact information. You have complete responsibility for your account and everything that happens on your account. This means you need to be careful with your password. If you find out that someone is using your account without your permission, you must let us know immediately. You may not transfer your account to someone else. We are not liable for any damages or losses caused by someone using your account without your permission. However, if we (or anyone else) suffer any damage due to the unauthorized use of your account, you may be liable.

3. Permitted Uses⚓︎

If you elect to publish Materials to Central, you may access Central to publish such Materials for consumption by other users of Central, subject to the Publisher Tiers.

4. Submissions to the Central Repository⚓︎

Central offers many opportunities for you to publish Materials to Central, subject to the Publisher Tiers. The following terms apply to all Materials that you publish to Central.

a. You Take Responsibility for Your Submissions.⚓︎

You warrant that you have all rights needed to publish your Materials to Central in accordance with the Central ToS and these Publisher Terms and to grant Sonatype the licenses set forth in section 4.b. You agree that you will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that such Materials: (i) do not infringe, misappropriate or violate the intellectual property rights or privacy interests of others; (ii) are not confidential or trade secret information, or subject to anyone's privacy interest; (iii) are not inaccurate, harmful, obscene, pornographic, defamatory, racist, or otherwise objectionable to a reasonable user; and (iv) do not violate any law, ordinance, or regulation of any country, state or locality. Moreover, you acknowledge and agree that your use of Central may be subject to payment of fees depending on the Publisher Tier applicable to you and whether your publishing constitutes Commercial Use and that your access to and use of Central may be restricted and/or denied if such fees are not paid. YOU AGREE THAT YOU, AND NOT SONATYPE, ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MATERIALS THAT YOU PUBLISH TO CENTRAL AND THAT YOU, AND NOT SONATYPE, ARE LIABLE FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF THEM.

b. License Grant.⚓︎

You agree that all Materials that you publish to Central are submitted, and subject to, the Selected Usage Terms. You acknowledge that you are responsible for including all applicable copyright notices, Selected Usage Terms, and other licenses terms with the Materials that you submit to us to be published on Central, and you assume all risks of failing to do so (including the potential loss of your rights to such Materials). Sonatype does not claim ownership of your Materials. However, in order to fulfill the purposes of Central, you hereby grant us the right and license to publish your Materials to Central and make them available to users. In legalese: You hereby grant to Sonatype a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive and fully sub-licensable right and license under your intellectual property rights to reproduce, publish, distribute, perform, modify, and display your Submissions (in whole or in part) solely for the purpose of copying, storing and hosting them for download by users of Central, all subject to the obligation to retain any copyright notices included in such Materials.

Publisher Tiers and Commercial Use⚓︎

You understand that your ability to publish Materials to Central is limited to the Publisher Tier applicable to you and publishing Materials above your Publisher Tier may be limited by Sonatype at its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, Publisher Tiers will be determined by Sonatype at its discretion based on general usage patterns and your specific use of Central. Furthermore, you understand that your ability to submit Materials to Sonatype for publication to Central that, in Sonatype's discretion, constitute Commercial Use may be limited by Sonatype at its sole discretion. Sonatype reserves the right to determine when use exceeds applicable Publisher Tiers and/or constitutes Commercial Use, what actions it will take to restrict the use of Central for such purposes, and what, if any, fees that it will charge related to such uses.

Enforcement of Copyrights⚓︎

We respect the intellectual property rights of others. You may not use Central to infringe anyone else's copyright or other intellectual property rights. If we find out that you are infringing, we will remove your Materials. We do not have to give you notice that we are removing your Materials. We may also terminate your account if we decide that you are a repeat infringer. We consider a repeat infringer to be a user who has been notified of infringing activity more than twice or who has previously had Materials removed from Central.

No Intellectual Property Rights⚓︎

Nothing in these terms shall be deemed to grant any rights to trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets or any other intellectual property (the "IP") of any party, and in no event may you use the IP of any other party in Materials that you seek to publish to Central, whether directly or indirectly, without the express prior written permission of such party.

Indemnity for Submissions⚓︎

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sonatype and its affiliates, suppliers, partners, officers, agents, and employees from and against any claim, demand, losses, damages or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from Materials that you publish to Central.

Effect of Termination⚓︎

Upon any termination we may delete your account, passwords and Materials and we may bar you from further use of Central; provided that you acknowledge and agree that Sonatype, in its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right to continue to make your Materials available on Central even if your use of and/or access to Central is terminated or suspended. You agree that we will have no liability to you or any third party for termination of your account, Materials, or access to Central.

General Terms⚓︎

As noted above, your activities related to publishing Materials to Central are governed by the Central ToS and these Publisher Terms.