3 ms·

I really like the idea behind this license. They want to see a world where software patents no longer exist. So they write a term into their licensing that mak

I really like the idea behind this license. They want to see a world where software patents no longer exist. So they write a term into their licensing that makes it really difficult for people who do like software patents to use their stuff. I think I will move my projects over to a similar license. The only thing I would change would be to broaden it to invalidate if your company sued anybody over any patent. If everybody did that, maybe software patents would finally go away.

pavanky 9y ago
This would only encourage fragmentation. Large companies have to resources to not use your software and create a competing product.
- AstralStorm 9y ago
  I think you meant encouraging centralization. And yes, big players will often find it cheaper to undercut you via reimplement than a sale. (Or force you to capitulate then get your employees.)
imtringued 9y ago
>Facebook claims that if every company adopted a React-like license, that software patents as we know it would basically die. If you think patents shouldn't exist then why is the purpose of the license to protect a single company from patent lawsuits. Why isn't the license covering any patent lawsuits of any kind to any party like the ASL does? Why does the license only protect facebook? What if there are patents that apply to react that facebook doesn't own? Patent trolls can't sue facebook but they can still sue users of react and continue to use react. >If everybody did that, maybe software patents would finally go away. No because facebook can still sue you for other software patents for internal software they didn't release. Facebook's patent grant is a halfassed solution. They are either outright malicious and merely acting in self interest or blatantly incompetent. But since they are unwilling to change the license and patent grant I'm betting on the former.
- nojvek 9y ago
  Facebook's licence is as half assed as the free Internet they wanted to bring into India and some African countries. It only benefits Facebook and comes with strings attached.
raulk 9y ago
I'm glad you bring this up. React adopted this license in 2014. If FB's intent was really to have all corporations adopt this model, they've had 3 years to achieve that. However, no other company other than Palantir has adopted this model. Not even in the Valley. The truth is that they are essentially alone. Here's the follow-up article: https://medium.com/@raulk/list-of-companies-and-popular-projects-by-the-open-source-licenses-they-use-35a53eaf1c80 https://medium.com/@raulk/list-of-companies-and-popular-proj...

pavanky 9y ago

This would only encourage fragmentation. Large companies have to resources to not use your software and create a competing product.

AstralStorm 9y ago
I think you meant encouraging centralization. And yes, big players will often find it cheaper to undercut you via reimplement than a sale. (Or force you to capitulate then get your employees.)

imtringued 9y ago

>Facebook claims that if every company adopted a React-like license, that software patents as we know it would basically die. If you think patents shouldn't exist then why is the purpose of the license to protect a single company from patent lawsuits. Why isn't the license covering any patent lawsuits of any kind to any party like the ASL does? Why does the license only protect facebook? What if there are patents that apply to react that facebook doesn't own? Patent trolls can't sue facebook but they can still sue users of react and continue to use react. >If everybody did that, maybe software patents would finally go away. No because facebook can still sue you for other software patents for internal software they didn't release. Facebook's patent grant is a halfassed solution. They are either outright malicious and merely acting in self interest or blatantly incompetent. But since they are unwilling to change the license and patent grant I'm betting on the former.

nojvek 9y ago
Facebook's licence is as half assed as the free Internet they wanted to bring into India and some African countries. It only benefits Facebook and comes with strings attached.

raulk 9y ago

I'm glad you bring this up. React adopted this license in 2014. If FB's intent was really to have all corporations adopt this model, they've had 3 years to achieve that. However, no other company other than Palantir has adopted this model. Not even in the Valley. The truth is that they are essentially alone. Here's the follow-up article: https://medium.com/@raulk/list-of-companies-and-popular-projects-by-the-open-source-licenses-they-use-35a53eaf1c80 https://medium.com/@raulk/list-of-companies-and-popular-proj...