[FX.php List] Request for License Suggestions (was [XPOST]Any
interest in using FX.php with FileMaker 4.1?)
Chris Hansen
chris at iViking.org
Thu Jul 13 16:30:31 MDT 2006
Steve,
I agree that licensing can be somewhat muddy, and I've increasingly
felt that the Artistic License is perhaps not the best choice.
However, from subsequent emails it's clear that this was merely a
matter of an erroneous post.
All that said, I would like to come up with a better and clearer
license to use with subsequent releases of FX.php. I'll look at the
LGPL again to see if that looks like an option, but I'd also love to
hear any suggestions that people may have as to preferred licenses.
A traditional GPL license is not an option, since the FX_Error object
must be released under the PHP license and I believe that the GPL
would preclude this. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
--Chris Hansen
FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
Creator of FX.php
"The best way from FileMaker to the Web."
www.iViking.org
On Jul 13, 2006, at 12:44 PM, Steve Hannah wrote:
> Hi Chris,
>
> I suggest that you make the license more explicit. From a glance
> over the source and the files in the "Licenses" directory, I only
> see the following:
>
> 1. " FX is a free open-source PHP class for accessing FileMaker #
> # data"
>
> 2. The PHP License
>
> 3. The Artistic License
>
> None of these imply that derived products must be free. There are
> many different types of open source licenses. This email would
> imply that you intend it to have a GPL style license (i.e.
> derivative products must be free). However the PHP license and
> artistic license included in the distribution say nothing about this.
>
> Open source packages like FX.php are quite often distributed under
> an LGPL style license, though, to make it more useful (so that
> people who use it in one of their apps don't get their hands tied
> by the license later on). I guess I had wrongly assumed this style
> of license.
>
> If I have missed some information about the license, please let me
> know. I just think that Stephen's mistaken belief that he could
> sell derivative works is an easy one to make, given that the
> license doesn't seem to be front and center.
>
> Best regards, and thank you for your great work on FX.php, and your
> dedication to keeping it free.
>
> -Steve Hannah
>
> On 13-Jul-06, at 11:28 AM, Chris Hansen wrote:
>
>> Stephen,
>>
>> By the terms of the license of FX.php you are NOT allowed to sell
>> any product which uses FX.php code, unless you make some
>> arrangement with those who have created the base class; and since
>> I maintain FX.php, that means me. You have made no effort to do
>> this. I appreciate that you need to run a business, but you
>> cannot legally sell a work derived from FX.php. In the past, you
>> have sold related products which didn't actually incorporate
>> FX.php code and that's fine. But charging for a modified version
>> is another matter. If you want to contribute to FX.php, that
>> would be great, but it seems like you're generally missing the
>> point of open source. Of course, you could charge a fee to some
>> people, as long as the source code were freely and readily
>> available for download from your site. That way, those who wanted
>> to contribute could, but anyone could use it (or improve it.)
>>
>> I have to say that I feel that your participation with FX.php is
>> somewhat disingenuous:
>>
>> * You allow people to download FX.php from your site, but only if
>> they provide their personal information.
>>
>> * You don't inform people on the download page that yours is not
>> the official site, or that FX.php can be downloaded elsewhere
>> without providing this information.
>>
>> Perhaps it seems to you that no harm has been done, but I
>> disagree: you once forwarded to me a bug fix that had been found
>> by someone, and reported to you. Because this was sent to me
>> without the person's name, that person didn't get the credit that
>> they deserved for that fix. This also implies that the person who
>> emailed you assumed that FMWebschool was responsible for FX.php
>> and its maintenance. You say you spent 60 hours on this project,
>> I've spent close to 1000; and many others have spent at least what
>> you have. And yet you are the first to require payment for your
>> contribution. Do you really feel that your contribution is more
>> valuable than those of others, or more worthwhile than FX.php itself?
>>
>> You are welcome in the FX.php community. If you want to sell
>> support for FX.php, or training, that's great. But please give
>> credit where credit is due, and don't violate the license. I am
>> very pleased with the open and friendly way in which people help
>> one another in this community. And I apologize for reacting so
>> strongly, however the American legal system is such that a
>> trespass once allowed is hard to subsequently prohibit. FX.php is
>> free and will remain so. That is my promise to the community.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> --Chris Hansen
>> FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
>> Creator of FX.php
>> "The best way from FileMaker to the Web."
>> www.iViking.org
>>
>>
>> On Jul 13, 2006, at 10:17 AM, Stephen Knight wrote:
>>
>>> I have just finished writing an FX.php class the allows you to
>>> use FX.php
>>> with FileMaker 4.1. Many of you will remember that 4.1 did not
>>> require
>>> FileMaker Unlimited.
>>>
>>> If you feel this would be a valuable tool and if there is enough
>>> interest I
>>> will place it on our website and release it for a very small fee.
>>>
>>> In Kindness
>>> Stephen K Knight
>>> http://www.fmwebschool.com
>>> 800.353.7950 / 386.453.5843
>>> FMWebschool, we bring the web to life
>>> FX.PHP PHP XML MySQL CDML ASP
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> FX.php_List mailing list
>>> FX.php_List at mail.iviking.org
>>> http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list
>>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------
> Steve Hannah
> Web Services Developer
>
> Faculty of Applied Sciences
> Simon Fraser University
> shannah at sfu.ca
> 604-268-7228
> Homepage: http://www.sjhannah.com
>
>
>
>
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