Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software?

Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by bombcar on Thursday April 21, 2022 @09:39PM (#31117301)

Do you want the widest possible usage of it, including companies taking it and reselling it? Then MIT might work.

Do you want it to only be used and not sold? Probably AGPL or something.

Do you want to sell it also? Then AGPL with a separate commercial license for those who want to pay.

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by kamrani on Thursday April 21, 2022 @10:11PM (#31117464)

I think the last one then.

I want to be able to sell it (exclusively), and anyone should be able to use the open-source version for free if they want (there is a SaaS offering for whoever wants it).

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by crystoloxy on Friday April 22, 2022 @08:55AM (#31121033)

I don’t think that is “open source” then, more like you have a source-available freemium model? People can see the source code, and use it for free, but that’s all?

If someone makes their own changes can they distribute them? Can they charge money for them? Or is the idea that people can contribute code, but only back to you, which you can sell?

I’ll be curious to hear what you settle on.

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by pabs3 on Friday April 22, 2022 @03:31AM (#31119193)

The AGPL doesn't prevent competitors selling the software, complying with it is reasonably easy even for a SaaS company.

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by kamrani on Friday April 22, 2022 @08:18AM (#31120694)

Then I think it's not what I want.

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by pabs3 on Friday April 22, 2022 @09:09AM (#31121141)

Its beginning to sound like you don't want an open source license, but a proprietary one instead.

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by kamrani on Saturday April 23, 2022 @03:42AM (#31132262)

I just want to make sure people can use it for free if they want but I don't want to give the right to sell.

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Re:Ask HN: What license should I choose for my software? by pabs3 on Saturday April 23, 2022 @08:47AM (#31133809)

A license that says that couldn't be classed as Open Source or Free Software, but maybe as Ethical Source.

https://ethicalsource.dev/principles/

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