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Release Open source software
| Posted by rcbandit, 11-04-2010, 05:22 PM |
| Hi,
I want to release a software under Open Source license but I want to restrict the coping of the source code and the distribution. I want everybody who want to use the source code fist to ask me for written permission to do it. Is there any legal way to do this?
regards
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| Posted by centauricw, 11-05-2010, 06:18 AM |
| You can craft any kind of license you want for your code, but the restrictions you listed will preclude it from being from being Open Source. Open Source is about freedom to use and distribute source code while retaining copyright (or copyleft) control over the source. To better understand what Open Source is, visit the Open Source Initiative: http://www.opensource.org/
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| Posted by A_Fig_Lee, 11-05-2010, 06:39 AM |
| not true. People messing up "open source" and free.
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| Posted by centauricw, 11-05-2010, 06:45 AM |
| I said freedom, not free. They are different things. And Open Source is all about freedom, even if you charge for it.
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| Posted by Christian, 11-05-2010, 02:00 PM |
| The whole idea behind Opensource is source code being freely available to use, reuse, redistribute, modify, etc.
From what you stated, you want your software to be visible source, but restrict redistribution to only authorized people? I don't know of any licenses of the top of my head that you could use, but you can easily write your own or sit down with someone with legal knowledge to guide you.
Either way though, Opensource is not the right license for you.
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| Posted by sivasakthiinfotech, 11-05-2010, 06:43 PM |
| Why dont you use encryption. Encrypt your whole source code and deliver it free of code. Developer will contact you if they need to open files.
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| Posted by streaky81, 11-07-2010, 04:54 PM |
| Code can be open without using some kind of OSI-approved style license. You probably need some kind of custom license, which is where you might start getting into trouble without a decent legal team though.
The good thing about OSI-type licenses is they tend to be well worked through by large legal teams, and have worked in courts. If you try to work through an OSS license and restrict future distribution you're going to fall down a big hole, because of the principle of the movement means they're written to prevent exactly what you're trying to do.
So the answer to your question is technically yes - but not with an Open Source free as in freedom license, don't even try it won't work.
You could modify an existing license, like say the updated BSD one, changing clauses where relevant, is probably the safest path. Depending on how much you care you'd probably want a lawyer to take a look at it though.
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