Release 5 FHIR CI-Build

This page is part of the Continuous Integration Build of FHIR Specification (v5.0.0: R5 - STU ). This is the current published version in it's permanent home (it will always (will be available incorrect/inconsistent at this URL). For a full list of available versions, see times).
See the Directory of published versions icon . Page versions: R5 R4B R4 R3 R2

2.1.23 License and Legal Terms

Maturity Level : N/A
Responsible Owner: FHIR Infrastructure icon Work Group Standards Status : Informative

2.1.23.1 Disclaimer and Warning of Use

FHIR Resource definitions developed by HL7 are derived from the considerable collective experience of the HL7 membership and wide community feedback from the development and application of a spectrum of health care interoperability solutions. However, Resource definitions are generalized to support multiple contexts of use. It is the responsibility of the persons or organizations using these Resources to ensure their use is fit for the particular purpose in which they are used, including validation for clinical and operational use.

See also the specific warnings associated with use of the STU .

2.1.23.2 Promoting Interoperability

HL7's mission since 1987 has been improving health care interoperability, and HL7 FHIR is the latest in a long line of interoperability standards. We dedicate the FHIR specification to the public domain using CC0 1.0 in order to encourage adoption of FHIR as a foundation for better healthcare around the world; to increase patient empowerment; and to promote the availability of interoperable health data for everyone who needs it.

2.1.23.3 FHIR License

Copyright © 2011+ HL7.

This specification (specifically the set of materials included in the fhir-spec.zip file available from the downloads page of this specification) is produced by HL7 under the terms of HL7® Governance and Operations Manual icon relating to Intellectual Property (Section 09, at the time this specification was published), specifically its copyright, trademark and patent provisions.

This specification is licensed under Creative Commons "No Rights Reserved" ( CC0 icon ).

HL7®, HEALTH LEVEL SEVEN®, FHIR® and the FHIR ® are trademarks owned by Health Level Seven International, registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

2.1.23.3.1 Additional information about the license

  • FHIR is © and ® HL7. The right to maintain FHIR remains vested in HL7
  • You can redistribute FHIR
  • You can create derivative specifications or implementation-related products and services
  • You can't claim that HL7 or any of its members endorses your derived [thing] because it uses content from this specification
  • Neither HL7 nor any of the contributors to this specification accept any liability for your use of FHIR
  • You cannot publish an altered version of the FHIR specification unless it clearly identifies that it is a derivative specification, not FHIR itself
  • Derivative Specifications cannot redefine what conformance to FHIR means
  • HL7 is not responsible for either identifying patents for which a license may be required to implement FHIR® or for conducting inquiries into the legal validity or scope of those patents that are brought to its attention (Governance and Operations Manual , section 09.03.04 as of the time this release was published icon )"

2.1.23.4 FHIR Trademark

While HL7 places no restrictions on the right to copy the FHIR specification or to create derivative works per the Creative Commons license, HL7 does protect the "FHIR" trademark carefully. This means that for any use of the trademarks ("FHIR" and the FHIR Icon) by parties other than HL7 and it's affiliates:

  • You can use the trademarks "FHIR" and the FHIR logo to refer the FHIR specification itself (nominatively, or under the terms of fair use icon
  • When referencing the FHIR® standard in a website, document, presentation, or otherwise, please in a place of prominence refer to it as the "HL7® FHIR® standard". In subsequent uses, please refer to it as the "FHIR® standard" or "FHIR®", using the ® symbol as often as is practical, at least once on each page of printed matter, generally in connection with the first or dominant usage.
  • When using the logo , FHIR always include the ® symbol
  • All non-trademark uses of the foregoing marks should include the ® symbol and indicate in text that:
    "HL7, FHIR and the FHIR [FLAME DESIGN] are the registered trademarks of Health Level Seven International and their use does not constitute endorsement by HL7."
  • Use of Health Level Seven International trademarks in URL domains or to brand your product or service (e.g. (e.g., as part of the product name) without the express written consent of Health Level Seven International is strictly prohibited.
  • HL7 will grant express written permission for libraries, applications, web sites, documentation, community events, tutorials, marketing material etc to make use of the trademarks (name and FHIR icon) provided that the usage is conformant with the rules of this specification.
  • Use the forms HL7 provides to obtain written permission to use the trademark "FHIR" in an event name icon or a product name icon (including domain names)
  • HL7 cannot provide permission to use the trademarks ("FHIR" and the FHIR icon) in another trademark

Trademark FAQs are posted on the HL7 International website icon . Questions? Please contact HL7trademarks@HL7.org for more information.

2.1.23.5 Third-party artifacts and terminologies

The HL7 FHIR specification contains and references intellectual property owned by third parties ("Third Party IP"). Acceptance of these License Terms does not grant any rights with respect to Third Party IP. The licensee alone is responsible for identifying and obtaining any necessary licenses or authorizations to utilize Third Party IP in connection with the specification or otherwise.

Following is a non-exhaustive list of third-party artifacts and terminologies that may require a separate license:

Artifact/Terminology Statement/Owner/Contact
SNOMED CT International Healthcare Terminology Standards Developing Organization ( IHTSDO icon ).
This specification includes content from SNOMED CT, which is copyright © 2002+ International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO) and distributed by agreement between IHTSDO and HL7. Implementer use of SNOMED CT is not covered by this agreement
DICOM National Electrical Manufacturers Association ( NEMA icon ).
This specification includes content from DICOM, which is copyright NEMA, and distributed by agreement between NEMA/DICOM and HL7. Implementer use of DICOM is not covered by this agreement
Logical Observation Identifiers Names & Codes (LOINC) This material contains content from LOINC ( http://loinc.org icon ). LOINC is copyright © 1995-2020, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license icon . LOINC® is a registered United States trademark of Regenstrief Institute, Inc.
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes Consult the World Health Organization ( WHO icon )
Current Procedures Terminology (CPT) code set American Medical Association ( AMA icon )
CPT copyright 2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.