Discuss: The Open-Source Milestone Application Framewor

Forrest J. Cavalier III mibsoft at mibsoftware.com
Mon Apr 29 11:46:10 UTC 2002


Akil Franklin wrote:

> How could we reword clause 6 to make it less clumsy and to make it more
> palatable?
>

As written, clause 6 obligates everyone who reuses the smallest piece
of your software.
  6. All advertising materials regarding products derived from this
  software and/or features derived from its use must include the
  following acknowledgement:

There is much written on how the original BSD advertising clause
reaches too far, but it does have a limitation "All advertising
materials mentioning features or use of this software must display..."

Is there a reason the BSD phrasing does not meet your goals? 

Is there a reason you cannot dismiss the clause entirely?
Even though encouraging advocacy of products by users is a big
reason that companies want to use open source, it is a challenge to
do successfully.   IMHO, if you try to grab too much in the license,
you will be seen as too self-promoting, which will discourage
adoption (possibly because users get suspicious of your motives: "are
you trying to help them, or help only yourself?")



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