On 17/10/10 12:13, Brian Leach wrote:
> All
>
>
>
> I've been planning for a while to release my system scanning tools
> ("mvScan") as free/open software.
>
> That way, anyone can download and use it and hopefully people can choose to
> add to the library of plug-ins that are used to analyse specific entities -
> an example might be some plug-ins to add SB+ or SBXA tools into the map,
> neither of which I currently use. In fact, it's one of a number of tools I
> want to make freely available in the same way.
>
>
>
> The only stumbling block I'm hitting is trying to choose a licence.
>
> With so many 'open source' and 'free software' licences out there, I've just
> ended up getting more and more confused as I read more about the
> differences.
>
>
>
> All I want is a simple licence that will have the usual attribution and
> indemnity clauses, whilst allowing anyone to modify the software as they
> please and give it out as they see fit.
>
Strong copyleft or weak, or not copyleft at all.
>
>
> I'm considering the MIT licence for the simple reason that it's short and to
> the point - but when I see it next to the likes of the CDDL I'm left
> wondering whether it is enough?
>
What extra protection does the CDDL give? Most of the extra verbiage in
the newer licences is due to the Americans getting themselves in a twist
over patents - which are illegal in Europe (that doesn't stop the EPO
granting them, though).
>
>
> Has anyone any insight to share on this?
>
>
>
>
I'd probably go for either MIT or LGPL in your shoes.
MIT gives freedom to the *developer* - any other software guy can take
your code, put it in his product, and keep the innovations, bug fixes
etc private to himself.
LGPL gives freedom to the *code* - while any other software guy can take
your code, put it in his product, and keep *his* *product* to himself,
any fixes/mods/improvements he makes to your code, he has to share with
his customers.
I'd also add that MIT/BSD/GPL are well understood licences. The CDDL
somewhat less so. The fact you didn't even mention GPL as an option
makes me think MIT will be closest to what you want (that, and I think
that the CDDL is a GPL-like licence...)
Cheers,
Wol
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