VM (Vicky) Brasseur

IF your product is available under an #OpenSource license and some other company uses it to create a more compelling product offering than your own,

THEN the problem is **not** the license or open source, it's that your company is failing at doing #business as well as your competitor is.

Oct 16, 2023 at 8:56pmWeb
Show threadBob McWhirterOct 16, 2023
@vmbrasseur have you met @joew ?
Show threadVM (Vicky) BrasseurOct 16, 2023

@bobmcwhirter @joew I have now. ;-)

Howdy, Joe!

Show threadOgogon !!! Oct 16, 2023
@vmbrasseur If my program is distributed under the GPL license, then neither it nor its elements may be used to create any products that are distributed as part of a business relationship. If we are talking about another open and free product, then no one will object.
Show threadKevin P. FlemingOct 16, 2023
@ogogon @vmbrasseur Sorry, that statement is false. It is completely acceptable to use GPL-licensed software in a commercial product offering and even to charge for providing copies of the software.
Show threadVM (Vicky) BrasseurOct 16, 2023
@kevin @ogogon Not only acceptable, it's encouraged.
Show threadJanne MorenOct 16, 2023

@ogogon @vmbrasseur
Nope. I suggest you read the actual license (it's a pretty easy read).

Other people can do whatever they want with your code. The only requirement is that they make the source - including any changes they make - available to their customers under the same licence terms.

Notably, they don't have to make changes available to you (unless you're a paying customer). And they can compete directly with you using your own product.

Show threadKevin Boyd (he/him) 🇨🇦Oct 17, 2023
@vmbrasseur ... true, but under that logic, if that other company is a well-funded bezzle, you're probably screwed - with no recourse.
Show thread2¢Oct 17, 2023
@vmbrasseur if a competitor leverages your substantial investment by developing a better product atop what you open source, what part of "business" have you failed at?