Project Declaration

Barebones OS is a lightweight Windows customization sub-project developed under the NuxOS project umbrella. It is not a product of, affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Microsoft Corporation in any way.

Barebones OS is a non-commercial, open experimentation project, maintained as part of the broader NuxOS ecosystem.

1. Windows Base — Microsoft Ownership

Barebones OS is built upon Microsoft Windows 10/11, which is proprietary software owned by Microsoft Corporation.

• All Windows components, binaries, and associated intellectual property remain the exclusive property of Microsoft Corporation.
• Barebones OS does not claim ownership over any Microsoft Windows component, trademark, or technology.
• "Windows", "Windows 10" and "Windows 11" are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

2. Scope of This License

This license applies to:

• The Barebones OS build configuration and customization layer
• Scripts, tools, and automation used in the build process
• Documentation, wiki, and project materials authored by the Barebones OS team
• The Barebones OS project identity, name, and branding, as a sub-project of NuxOS

This license does NOT apply to:

• The underlying Windows operating system components
• Third-party tools or software referenced or recommended by this project
• Microsoft Activation Scripts (MAS) or any external activation tooling

3. Distribution

You MAY:

• Use Barebones OS for personal, educational, or research purposes
• Share links to official Barebones OS distribution channels
• Discuss, document, or review Barebones OS publicly
• Build upon the project's open build concepts for personal use

You MAY NOT:

• Repackage, rebrand, or redistribute Barebones OS builds as your own project without clear attribution
• Sell Barebones OS or charge users for access to its builds
• Claim official affiliation with Barebones OS or NuxOS without permission
• Misrepresent Barebones OS as a product of Microsoft Corporation

4. No Warranty

Barebones OS is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. The developers make no guarantees regarding:

• Hardware compatibility
• Suitability for any particular purpose
• Long-term system stability
• Security under aggressive reduction configurations
• Compatibility with all third-party software

Users deploy and use Barebones OS entirely at their own risk. The developers are not liable for any data loss, hardware damage, system instability, or security incidents arising from the use of Barebones OS.

5. Legal Compliance

Users of Barebones OS are solely responsible for:

• Complying with Microsoft's Windows licensing terms
• Complying with applicable software laws in their jurisdiction
• Ensuring lawful use of all software installed on top of Barebones OS

This project does not provide legal advice. If you are uncertain about licensing requirements in your region, consult a qualified legal professional.

6. Third-Party Tools & References

Barebones OS may reference or recommend third-party tools for post-setup configuration (e.g., drivers, runtimes, browsers). These tools are:

• Not bundled within Barebones OS unless explicitly stated
• Subject to their own respective licenses and terms
• The responsibility of the user to evaluate before use

7. Project Identity

"Barebones OS" is the name of this sub-project, developed under the NuxOS project. Unauthorized rebranding, impersonation, or misrepresentation of this project is not permitted.