HexLicense, the in-software license minting and security system for Delphi and C++ builder developers, is going open source!
HexLicense, the in-software license minting and security system for Delphi and C++ builder developers, is going open source!
https://hexlicense.com/2018/08/24/hexlicense-goes-open-source/
https://hexlicense.com/2018/08/24/hexlicense-goes-open-source/
You need to look up the definition of "open source". This license does not sound like it meets the definition of an open source license per the terms of the Open Source Initiative (OSI). In fact, the idea of an open source version of a piece of software meant to lock down proprietary software is rather funny. :-)
ReplyDeleteopensource.org - The Open Source Definition | Open Source Initiative
Also "License has been set to 5% of total sales revenue equal-to and beyond $2000."
That's more expensive than Unreal Engine, which asks for 5% over the first $3000.
Attila Kovacs From my understanding, once your revenue for a software product using Hexlicense exceeds $2000, you now pay a 5% royalty on every copy sold.
ReplyDeleteGiven that a single developer license has been sold for $200 before (or still is), that would end up in a pretty steep price increase when you cross the $4000 revenue border. My personal perception is that near to nobody making a notable revenue with a software product will share 5% for the licensing part. In case there is no upper limit to this price model, this looks like a valid way to prematurely end the lifetime of HexLicense.
ReplyDeleteWith one developer licence you are able to "secure" More than one product.
ReplyDeleteThe licence mode more sounds like UE etc, asking for 5% for sales over 5000$.
Uwe Raabe There must be a misunderstanding here. The license is that once you reach 2000 - you pay a single fee of 5% -- its not a perpetual license! It is in effect a 50% price reduction, one time fee, with all the perks of code access and right to adapt and adjust the code as you see fit. Heavens no, 5% perpetual would be madness.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Mitzen No. Once you reach $2000 you pay $100 once, not perpetually. So the price has been cut in half and you can use it until you can pay for it.
ReplyDeleteAttila Kovacs This is not the license. You can use it until you make $2000, then you pay a one-time fee of $100. Which is half the price of the current offering + full access to source + right to change and modify the code to suit your product better. Its not perpetual.
ReplyDeleteLennart Aasenden Sorry if I misunderstood your article. I suggest to add some explaining sentences to it to avoid other people to fall into the same trap. (I see, you already did)
ReplyDeleteUwe Raabe I edited the text now. It could have been written more clearly. But glad we sorted it out :)
ReplyDeleteNobody in their right mind is going to pay 5% of revenue for such a component. I estimate total sales with this model will be close to $0.
ReplyDeleteAttila Kovacs This is not hard to understand. Instead of paying $200 up front, which has been the price so far. You now pay $100 when your product has reached $2000 in earnings. That is a discount of 50%. You are not expected to pay $100 for each $2000 that you make (so not perpetual payment). Does that explain it better?
ReplyDeleteLennart Aasenden the confusion is your use of the word "perpetual", which has a time component ie a license that isn't perpetual expires at some point. I think you mean it's a capped payment of $100.
ReplyDeleteLennart Aasenden welcome to the weird world of sales! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLennart Aasenden Great. Now you might want to change the title to avoid confusion too. Perhaps "Hexlicense Goes Community Edition?" You're releasing a product under the same licensing terms as Delphi Community Edition or Visual Studio Community Edition, not open source like anything under GPLv2 or Apache licenses for example.
ReplyDelete1. How will you know that the product hit the mentioned revenue?
ReplyDelete2. As +Joseph Mitzen says, this model is not Open Source. Giving away the source does not make it Open Source as it is perceived by the community. The title of the article is misleading
You may want to reword this. Open Source means that anybody can download and compile your program, providing they agree with its license. MySQL does this: the Community Edition forbids you to make money from it. If you want to use it commercially you must buy a license. This relies heavily on the honesty of your customers, which some people believes basically doesn't change things (pirates will get pirated versions no matter what).
ReplyDeleteLeonardo Herrera I wrote "inspired by" as in spirit, positive, up beat and excited. Open source can have many interpretations and models, in this case the code will be available once people register for it. They can build on it, change it, expand it etc - providing they support the project with the $100. Not exactly a huge sum of money. I am actually reconsidering the whole thing and should perhaps do a patron instead. This would ensure growth and free access to those that support my work. It would also include the bytecode compiler, virtual machine, database engine and all my research technology for both Delphi and Smart Pascal.
ReplyDeleteBut yes you are right, I should have formulated it better. I apologize for any misunderstanding this caused. I will be more careful when I publish things like this in the future. And thank you for pointing it out.