4 ms·

Is it stands, it would be rejected for inclusion in Debian and other distributions (unlike open source games) and I wouldn't be able to bring it to my software

by mordae 3y ago

Is it stands, it would be rejected for inclusion in Debian and other distributions (unlike open source games) and I wouldn't be able to bring it to my software club and study it with kids, because that would be using it in a commercial setting. Don't get my hopes up by calling it open when you post it on HN. It's not that much to ask.

littlestymaar 3y ago
> I wouldn't be able to bring it to my software club and study it with kids, because that would be using it in a commercial setting. Would you mind elaborating on this? How is a software club a commercial setting?
- pgeorgi 3y ago
  "Commercial activity" can be as benign as "There are membership fees", "There's a soda machine in the corner that takes coins", "I'm doing it to brush up my CV" (increasing future income potential), or "There are ads on the website". As such, any of these might trigger the "only for ... non-commercial ... use" clause. So folks generally just don't sweat it.
  - boredhedgehog 3y ago
    The Sustainable Use License doesn't seem to contain a blanket ban on commercial use. Here's what it says on limitations: "You may use or modify the software only for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or personal use. You may distribute the software or provide it to others only if you do so free of charge for non-commercial purposes. You may not alter, remove, or obscure any licensing, copyright, or other notices of the licensor in the software. Any use of the licensor’s trademarks is subject to applicable law." Studying the software in a commercial setting seems to be permitted.
    - anthk 3y ago
      It's still non-free, period. True FOSS software doesn't impose restrictions on commercial sales.
  - littlestymaar 3y ago
    [flagged]
Narishma 3y ago
Why does Debian care that it can't be used in a commercial setting?
- jraph 3y ago
  Because it comes with the freedom to used for any purpose in its core goals / social contract [1], including commercial purposes: > No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor > > The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research. See also [2] [1] No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor [2] https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html
  - Narishma 3y ago
    Are there any (main) distributions that are fine with this restriction?
    - jraph 3y ago
      The GNU project has a page listing common distribution and their handling of non-free software if you are interested in the topic [1]. [1] https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html

by mordae 3y ago

littlestymaar 3y ago

> I wouldn't be able to bring it to my software club and study it with kids, because that would be using it in a commercial setting. Would you mind elaborating on this? How is a software club a commercial setting?

pgeorgi 3y ago
"Commercial activity" can be as benign as "There are membership fees", "There's a soda machine in the corner that takes coins", "I'm doing it to brush up my CV" (increasing future income potential), or "There are ads on the website". As such, any of these might trigger the "only for ... non-commercial ... use" clause. So folks generally just don't sweat it.
- boredhedgehog 3y ago
  The Sustainable Use License doesn't seem to contain a blanket ban on commercial use. Here's what it says on limitations: "You may use or modify the software only for your own internal business purposes or for non-commercial or personal use. You may distribute the software or provide it to others only if you do so free of charge for non-commercial purposes. You may not alter, remove, or obscure any licensing, copyright, or other notices of the licensor in the software. Any use of the licensor’s trademarks is subject to applicable law." Studying the software in a commercial setting seems to be permitted.
  - anthk 3y ago
    It's still non-free, period. True FOSS software doesn't impose restrictions on commercial sales.
- littlestymaar 3y ago
  [flagged]

Narishma 3y ago

Why does Debian care that it can't be used in a commercial setting?

jraph 3y ago
Because it comes with the freedom to used for any purpose in its core goals / social contract [1], including commercial purposes: > No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor > > The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used for genetic research. See also [2] [1] No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor [2] https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html
- Narishma 3y ago
  Are there any (main) distributions that are fine with this restriction?
  - jraph 3y ago
    The GNU project has a page listing common distribution and their handling of non-free software if you are interested in the topic [1]. [1] https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html