PolyForm Strict License 1 0 0

1. PolyForm Strict License 1.0.0

License name

PolyForm Strict License

License version number (if any)

1.0.0

Year published

2020

Authors or stewards

Polyform Project Inc.

Link to the license steward's canonical version

https://polyformproject.org/licenses/strict/1.0.0

Stats on usage

Used by some "open-core" projects for proprietary "enterprise" codebase.

Some source-available projects are mentioned at https://polyformproject.org/adopters

GAIA Personal AI Assistant: https://github.com/theexperiencecompany/gaia

Multipaste MacOS clipboard extension for history and snippets: https://github.com/NewdlDewdl/multipaste

dn archive tool: https://github.com/DO-SAY-GO/dn

Is it a modification of an existing license?

No explicit, may share text with other PolyForm licenses.

What are the differences?

N/A

What are the reasons for modifications?

N/A

In what way, if any, the modifications change answers to questions below for the preexisting license?

N/A

Does it grant the four freedoms and how?

License fails to grant all of four freedoms.

Freedom 0: License limits use to non-commercial purposes only, with small exceptions for some public-benefit organizations (charity, healthcare, research) and for personal use.

Freedom 1: License forbids making changes to licensed work. Studying and analyze is not explicitly forbidden.

Freedom 2 & 3: License forbids redistribution of work.

Does it require that works based on the program are under the same license?

No, since making derivative works is not permitted.

Is it clear and unambiguous?

License is clear and readable for anyone. Some sentences may be ambiguous. Please point out any ambiguities you found in the license "Any noncommercial purpose is a permitted purpose." - lacks of words like "solely" which clearly define noncommercial is only purpose permitted.

Does it use wording that may be interpreted strangely by some courts in some countries?

License depends on clever sentence "that would otherwise infringe the licensor's copyright" (similar for patents). GNU GPL also use this type of wording, but with further explanation "Propagation includes copying, distribution...".

PolyForm Strict License also implies this explanation, by stating "other than distributing the software or making changes or new works based on the software.", but it's not clear if full definition is unambiguous for some edge-cases.

Is it compatible with the GNU licenses version 3?

No. License is clearly proprietary. PolyForm Project officially states that their license are not Free Software or Open Source

What are its practical advantages and disadvantages for the users and for the community of releasing a program that way compared with other licenses in the same class (copyleft/non-copyleft, GPL-compatible/ not compatible)?

Since license is proprietary, this is not the case for Free Software community.

License is useful for some source-available projects for preserve control of software.

What is the context for this license being called to life?

PolyForm Project made this license (along with other PolyForm licenses) to avoid license fragmentation is source-available/proprietary software market.

Attachments

N/A

license text

# PolyForm Strict License 1.0.0

<https://polyformproject.org/licenses/strict/1.0.0>

## Acceptance

In order to get any license under these terms, you must agree
to them as both strict obligations and conditions to all
your licenses.

## Copyright License

The licensor grants you a copyright license for the software
to do everything you might do with the software that would
otherwise infringe the licensor's copyright in it for any
permitted purpose, other than distributing the software or
making changes or new works based on the software.

## Patent License

The licensor grants you a patent license for the software that
covers patent claims the licensor can license, or becomes able
to license, that you would infringe by using the software.

## Noncommercial Purposes

Any noncommercial purpose is a permitted purpose.

## Personal Uses

Personal use for research, experiment, and testing for
the benefit of public knowledge, personal study, private
entertainment, hobby projects, amateur pursuits, or religious
observance, without any anticipated commercial application,
is use for a permitted purpose.

## Noncommercial Organizations

Use by any charitable organization, educational institution,
public research organization, public safety or health
organization, environmental protection organization,
or government institution is use for a permitted purpose
regardless of the source of funding or obligations resulting
from the funding.

## Fair Use

You may have "fair use" rights for the software under the
law. These terms do not limit them.

## No Other Rights

These terms do not allow you to sublicense or transfer any of
your licenses to anyone else, or prevent the licensor from
granting licenses to anyone else.  These terms do not imply
any other licenses.

## Patent Defense

If you make any written claim that the software infringes or
contributes to infringement of any patent, your patent license
for the software granted under these terms ends immediately. If
your company makes such a claim, your patent license ends
immediately for work on behalf of your company.

## Violations

The first time you are notified in writing that you have
violated any of these terms, or done anything with the software
not covered by your licenses, your licenses can nonetheless
continue if you come into full compliance with these terms,
and take practical steps to correct past violations, within
32 days of receiving notice.  Otherwise, all your licenses
end immediately.

## No Liability

***As far as the law allows, the software comes as is, without
any warranty or condition, and the licensor will not be liable
to you for any damages arising out of these terms or the use
or nature of the software, under any kind of legal claim.***

## Definitions

The **licensor** is the individual or entity offering these
terms, and the **software** is the software the licensor makes
available under these terms.

**You** refers to the individual or entity agreeing to these
terms.

**Your company** is any legal entity, sole proprietorship,
or other kind of organization that you work for, plus all
organizations that have control over, are under the control of,
or are under common control with that organization.  **Control**
means ownership of substantially all the assets of an entity,
or the power to direct its management and policies by vote,
contract, or otherwise.  Control can be direct or indirect.

**Your licenses** are all the licenses granted to you for the
software under these terms.

**Use** means anything you do with the software requiring one
of your licenses.

wdiff

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