Source URL: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/09/please-stop-inventing-new-software-licences/
Source: Hacker News
Title: Please Stop Inventing New Software Licences
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text provides a critical analysis of the licensing issues surrounding the open-source cryptography app Cyph, highlighting its confusing proprietary license and its implications on community contributions. It sheds light on the challenges developers face when engaging with projects that present themselves as open-source but impose restrictive licensing terms, thus impacting community collaboration and usability.
Detailed Description: The narrative reveals key issues regarding the Cyph app’s licensing, which poses significant hurdles for developers and the open-source community. Key points include:
– **Licensing Confusion**: The original licensing model followed the MS-RSL, restricting the use of the source code primarily to debugging and maintenance, which complicates community engagement.
– **Community Barriers**: Introducing a proprietary license in a supposedly open-source project creates barriers for contributors. Developers may need legal consultation to ensure compliance with unfamiliar terms, which discourages participation.
– **New Cyph Reference Source License (CYPH-RSL)**: Although slightly improved, this license still presents ambiguous terms regarding “reference use,” raising questions about the extent to which modifications can be shared and communicated.
– **Potential Misinterpretations**: Terms like “intended” usage and restrictions on external distribution lead to confusion, complicating the ability of developers to collaborate effectively and share improvements.
– **Impact on Open Source Culture**: This case illustrates how improper licensing can stifle the spirit of open-source collaboration, leading to frustration among developers and possibly diminishing the project’s overall potential.
– **Need for Clear Licenses**: The narrative advocates for clarity in open-source licenses to foster a genuine collaborative environment, emphasizing that convoluted legal language can deter contributions and hinder progress.
Overall, this analysis serves as a cautionary tale for developers and project leaders in the realms of software and information security, reinforcing the importance of clear, accessible licensing in fostering community engagement and effective collaboration in the open-source software ecosystem.