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Your License Is Your Interface

Posted by Soulskill on from the your-license-is-solid-color-rectangles dept.

dp619 writes "License-free software has become a thing. Only 14.9% of repositories on GitHub have a license, according to recent Software Freedom Law Center research. Red Monk has observed that this trend is occurring principally among younger software developers. Outercurve Foundation technical evangelist Eric Schultz has offered up his opinion, saying, 'As an active developer I want to add a slightly different perspective on the dangers of releasing unlicensed software. My perspective is based on a simple phrase: "Your License Is Your Interface."' He adds, 'A license similarly defines the interaction between the software, or more precisely the creators of the software, and users. Just like an interface, a license defines intended behavior of users of the software, such as the four essential freedoms or the ten pillars of the Open Source Definition. Just like an interface, a license prevents unintended behavior of users of the software, which depending on the open source license, may disclaim the original author of liability for use of the software, prohibit redistribution without recognizing the original author or prohibit distribution of derivatives under a more restrictive license. When it comes to legal use and distribution of your software, your license IS your interface.'"

4 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. Ladies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Once you go black: you're a single mom!

  2. Prevent unintended behavior? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    No it isn't. I'm going to do whatever I want regardless of what your intentions are. You are not going to control my "behavior" with a "license."

  3. The Outercurve Foundation .. by dgharmon · · Score: -1, Troll

    Orchard: A free open source community-based Content Management System built on the ASP.NET platform ..

    More than 27 Projects benefit from our IP management and infrastructure support ..

    IP and Legal Affairs: We organize and manage IP assignments and contribution agreements, and provide regular reports to project leaders. We also provide committer indemnification and legal services to projects through our outside counsel.

    Q: Why is Microsoft involved in the creation of an open source foundation?

    Microsoft has an evolving engagement with open source ..

    --
    AccountKiller
  4. Re:and if license picking were mandatory... by Score+Whore · · Score: 0, Troll

    Obfuscation pretty much never has a place in security.

    Unless "pretty much never has a place in security" actually means "has a critical place in security", please tell me your usernames, passwords, crypto keys, host addresses, VPN token parameters, etc. Also your bank account numbers as well as your bank routing number.

    Secrets == obfuscation. Crypto == obfuscation.