[PHP] can I license a php script?
I am planning on writing a program in PHP and, hopefully sell it for a few dollars. Are there any licensing issues I should be concerned about when I distribute the program. What confuses me is, I'm not distributing PHP only code that uses PHP, so what am I to license, my intellectual property? Thanks Chris -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
RE: [PHP] can I license a php script?
Hi, Its like any program written in any language. You are licensing the product you created with the language, the functionality, the int property, etc.. Stick a price on it, and sell it. There are some tools for protecting your source of the code too. Check www.zend.com, I don't remember what it was called. -Dan Joseph -Original Message- From: Chris [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 5:28 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PHP] can I license a php script? I am planning on writing a program in PHP and, hopefully sell it for a few dollars. Are there any licensing issues I should be concerned about when I distribute the program. What confuses me is, I'm not distributing PHP only code that uses PHP, so what am I to license, my intellectual property? Thanks Chris -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
RE: [PHP] can I license a php script?
On Fri, 2003-11-14 at 16:33, Dan Joseph wrote: Hi, Its like any program written in any language. You are licensing the product you created with the language, the functionality, the int property, etc.. Stick a price on it, and sell it. There are some tools for protecting your source of the code too. Check www.zend.com, I don't remember what it was called. Be careful though, if your code incorporates other peoples code, for instance Smarty, or PEAR::DB then it may fall under their license. For instance if your code depends and I believe the key here is depends, on GPL code, then it falls under the GPL, even if you don't package GPL code with it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers, Rob. -- .. | InterJinn Application Framework - http://www.interjinn.com | :: | An application and templating framework for PHP. Boasting | | a powerful, scalable system for accessing system services | | such as forms, properties, sessions, and caches. InterJinn | | also provides an extremely flexible architecture for | | creating re-usable components quickly and easily. | `' -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP] can I license a php script?
Robert has some interesting thoughts aswell here. I just wanted to complement the stuff about securing your scripts. Zend has Zend Encoder, rather expensive - and with windows GUI. IonCube also has encoder, much more affordable, CommandLine. www.zend.com The first encodes and optimizes your code, and your server has 2 have the Zend Optimizer installed on its system for it to run. This has shown in history to be complicated on some ISP, who never gets their finger out and can install this. But usually, 4/5 it goes well. www.ioncube.com / www.ioncube.co.uk This one compiles and encrypts and optimizes (I think). It requires a module installed on the server, but - It can also run on most modern apache systems where it installs on the fly (the decoder). Ive just purchased the licence for this product myself, and it looks really promising. Benchmarks on their page also shows that this software accually beats the Zend Encoder, and the price is far better to, :) If you are developing some sort of software, you should always protect it so that : 1) Your competitors / resellers doesnt fuck you over by selling without you knowing it, or fix your code to fit their needs without you getting credit /payd for it. 2) Your customers doesnt play developers and try jerking your scripts, which in the long run gives you alot of extra support time as the scripts go bugging out. Happy programming! -- Kim Steinhaug --- There are 10 types of people when it comes to binary numbers: those who understand them, and those who don't. --- Dan Joseph [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, Its like any program written in any language. You are licensing the product you created with the language, the functionality, the int property, etc.. Stick a price on it, and sell it. There are some tools for protecting your source of the code too. Check www.zend.com, I don't remember what it was called. -Dan Joseph -Original Message- From: Chris [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 5:28 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PHP] can I license a php script? I am planning on writing a program in PHP and, hopefully sell it for a few dollars. Are there any licensing issues I should be concerned about when I distribute the program. What confuses me is, I'm not distributing PHP only code that uses PHP, so what am I to license, my intellectual property? Thanks Chris -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
RE: [PHP] can I license a php script?
Robert Cummings mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] on Friday, November 14, 2003 1:34 PM said: Be careful though, if your code incorporates other peoples code, for instance Smarty, or PEAR::DB then it may fall under their license. For instance if your code depends and I believe the key here is depends, on GPL code, then it falls under the GPL, even if you don't package GPL code with it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Ok so let's assume this is true (which it sounds like it is). So if you wanted to make a profit (or break even, whatever the case may be) you wouldn't necessarily be able to charge for the software itself but you *could* charge for support and stuff like that right? I guess that's like what RedHat and other vendors do? So let's say, the code if free to download, but you could offer (1) packaged versions with documentation, (2) a support contract, (3) a setup fee (if the customer doesn't feel they are technically capable of installing the software), (4) and whatever else you can come up with. Sound about right? Chris. -- Don't like reformatting your Outlook replies? Now there's relief! http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/outlook-quotefix/ -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP] can I license a php script?
On Fri, Nov 14, 2003 at 03:54:33PM -0800, Chris W. Parker wrote: : : Robert Cummings mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] : on Friday, November 14, 2003 1:34 PM said: : : Be careful though, if your code incorporates other peoples code, for : instance Smarty, or PEAR::DB then it may fall under their license. For : instance if your code depends and I believe the key here is depends, : on GPL code, then it falls under the GPL, even if you don't package : GPL code with it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. : : Ok so let's assume this is true (which it sounds like it is). So if you : wanted to make a profit (or break even, whatever the case may be) you : wouldn't necessarily be able to charge for the software itself but you : *could* charge for support and stuff like that right? I guess that's : like what RedHat and other vendors do? Phase 1: write PHP scripts. Phase 2: Phase 3: profit! -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP] can I license a php script?
Hi Kim, You do raise a lot of valid points about protecting your software. However we must also keep in mind that over protection makes a software very difficult to use. Unless we balance the two there will not be any sales. Kim Steinhaug wrote: Robert has some interesting thoughts aswell here. I just wanted to complement the stuff about securing your scripts. Zend has Zend Encoder, rather expensive - and with windows GUI. IonCube also has encoder, much more affordable, CommandLine. www.zend.com The first encodes and optimizes your code, and your server has 2 have the Zend Optimizer installed on its system for it to run. This has shown in history to be complicated on some ISP, who never gets their finger out and can install this. But usually, 4/5 it goes well. www.ioncube.com / www.ioncube.co.uk This one compiles and encrypts and optimizes (I think). It requires a module installed on the server, but - It can also run on most modern apache systems where it installs on the fly (the decoder). Ive just purchased the licence for this product myself, and it looks really promising. Benchmarks on their page also shows that this software accually beats the Zend Encoder, and the price is far better to, :) If you are developing some sort of software, you should always protect it so that : 1) Your competitors / resellers doesnt fuck you over by selling without you knowing it, or fix your code to fit their needs without you getting credit /payd for it. 2) Your customers doesnt play developers and try jerking your scripts, which in the long run gives you alot of extra support time as the scripts go bugging out. Happy programming! -- Raditha Dissanayake. http://www.radinks.com/sftp/ | http://www.raditha.com/megaupload Lean and mean Secure FTP applet with | Mega Upload - PHP file uploader Graphical User Inteface. Just 150 KB | with progress bar. -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
RE: [PHP] can I license a php script?
On Fri, 2003-11-14 at 18:54, Chris W. Parker wrote: Robert Cummings mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] on Friday, November 14, 2003 1:34 PM said: Be careful though, if your code incorporates other peoples code, for instance Smarty, or PEAR::DB then it may fall under their license. For instance if your code depends and I believe the key here is depends, on GPL code, then it falls under the GPL, even if you don't package GPL code with it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Ok so let's assume this is true (which it sounds like it is). So if you wanted to make a profit (or break even, whatever the case may be) you wouldn't necessarily be able to charge for the software itself but you *could* charge for support and stuff like that right? I guess that's like what RedHat and other vendors do? So let's say, the code if free to download, but you could offer (1) packaged versions with documentation, (2) a support contract, (3) a setup fee (if the customer doesn't feel they are technically capable of installing the software), (4) and whatever else you can come up with. Sound about right? Definitely the support contract portion works, and as you said is how many open source companies are making their money. Also setup costs and configuration all fall under service for which you can usually charge. The packaging with documentation may run into issues since many licenses have specific clauses with respect to charging for packaged versions, often only allowing one to regain the costs of packaging itself. Cheers, Rob. -- .. | InterJinn Application Framework - http://www.interjinn.com | :: | An application and templating framework for PHP. Boasting | | a powerful, scalable system for accessing system services | | such as forms, properties, sessions, and caches. InterJinn | | also provides an extremely flexible architecture for | | creating re-usable components quickly and easily. | `' -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP] can I license a php script?
Why wouldn't I be able to charge for the software? Quoted from the GNU General Public License: When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things. Additionally from the Smarty FAQ: Q: Can I create a proprietary software, and sell it with Smarty? A: Yes, you can. Smarty is licensed under the [LGPL] and distributing an unmodified smarty source as part of a commercial product is just fine. Chris Chris W. Parker [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Robert Cummings mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] on Friday, November 14, 2003 1:34 PM said: Be careful though, if your code incorporates other peoples code, for instance Smarty, or PEAR::DB then it may fall under their license. For instance if your code depends and I believe the key here is depends, on GPL code, then it falls under the GPL, even if you don't package GPL code with it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Ok so let's assume this is true (which it sounds like it is). So if you wanted to make a profit (or break even, whatever the case may be) you wouldn't necessarily be able to charge for the software itself but you *could* charge for support and stuff like that right? I guess that's like what RedHat and other vendors do? So let's say, the code if free to download, but you could offer (1) packaged versions with documentation, (2) a support contract, (3) a setup fee (if the customer doesn't feel they are technically capable of installing the software), (4) and whatever else you can come up with. Sound about right? Chris. -- Don't like reformatting your Outlook replies? Now there's relief! http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/outlook-quotefix/ -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
RE: [PHP] can I license a php script?
Chris mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] on Friday, November 14, 2003 7:13 PM said: Why wouldn't I be able to charge for the software? [snip] Sounds good to me! :) Chris. -- Don't like reformatting your Outlook replies? Now there's relief! http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/outlook-quotefix/ -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
Re: [PHP] can I license a php script?
On Fri, 2003-11-14 at 22:13, Chris wrote: Why wouldn't I be able to charge for the software? Quoted from the GNU General Public License: When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things. Additionally from the Smarty FAQ: Q: Can I create a proprietary software, and sell it with Smarty? A: Yes, you can. Smarty is licensed under the [LGPL] and distributing an unmodified smarty source as part of a commercial product is just fine. Chris Chris W. Parker [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Robert Cummings mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] on Friday, November 14, 2003 1:34 PM said: Be careful though, if your code incorporates other peoples code, for instance Smarty, or PEAR::DB then it may fall under their license. For instance if your code depends and I believe the key here is depends, on GPL code, then it falls under the GPL, even if you don't package GPL code with it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Ok so let's assume this is true (which it sounds like it is). So if you wanted to make a profit (or break even, whatever the case may be) you wouldn't necessarily be able to charge for the software itself but you *could* charge for support and stuff like that right? I guess that's like what RedHat and other vendors do? So let's say, the code if free to download, but you could offer (1) packaged versions with documentation, (2) a support contract, (3) a setup fee (if the customer doesn't feel they are technically capable of installing the software), (4) and whatever else you can come up with. True, and while I quoted smarty, I think i was focused more on GPL, than LGPL (my mistake). That said it is obvious that there are many licenses out there and so one should still be careful when using other libraries or source code. Cheers, Rob. -- .. | InterJinn Application Framework - http://www.interjinn.com | :: | An application and templating framework for PHP. Boasting | | a powerful, scalable system for accessing system services | | such as forms, properties, sessions, and caches. InterJinn | | also provides an extremely flexible architecture for | | creating re-usable components quickly and easily. | `' -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
