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Could you consider Delayed Open Source Publication (DOSP) [1]? With that, you make the source code open-source after a specific period of time (such as 5 years)
by maxloh 4mo ago
Could you consider Delayed Open Source Publication (DOSP) [1]? With that, you make the source code open-source after a specific period of time (such as 5 years).
This way, your customers still get the source code and can use it freely, but you don't have to worry about competition. By the time anyone could use it to compete with you, they would be using an ancient version of your software. The BUSL (Business Source License) by MariaDB is a battle-tested license designed for exactly this use case.
[1]: https://opensource.org/delayed-open-source-publication https://opensource.org/delayed-open-source-publication
- BrunoBernardino 4mo agoThat is an option, for sure, but it feels less honest to our customers to give them the code "so much later". With the PolyForm Shield, they can just use the _current_ version however they want for themselves/family, as long as they're not competing with us commercially. Or am I missing something else, here?
- maxloh 4mo agoNot really. That means you give your customers the code to use under your current restrictions, and after a specific period, they can use it under the open-source license of your choice as well.
- BrunoBernardino 4mo agoI see. We'll look into considering doing both, then. PolyForm Shield for the current code, with BUSL to transition into AGPLv3 after 2 or 3 years. Do you think that would work well?
- maxloh 4mo agoYeah. That would be great!
- BrunoBernardino 4mo agoThanks, will double-check with our lawyers on that, but it seems that'll be possible and the way to go!