[License-review] [License Review] Project Tick General Public License v1.0

[Shuji Sado]

Hi Duman-san,

This license looks like a GPLv3/AGPLv3 family variant, with an even
stronger focus on network operation and on preventing practical barriers to
accessing corresponding source.
Two points stood out to me:

1. Potential tension with OSD #10

OSD #10 says: "No provision of the license may be predicated on any
individual technology or style of interface."
Section 5 requires that "public availability" be provided "through a
network server" and "without requiring registration, payment, or acceptance
of terms" (inconsistent with the license). Section 7 similarly states that
access to Corresponding Resource and Installation Information "must not
require any special password, key, registration, or authorization."

Is mandating a "network server" and banning "registration" an OSD #10 issue
(interface/technology assumptions), or is it better read as a permissible
anti-restriction rule to keep rights practically exercisable?

2. Repeated "publicly available" requirements, plus equal access and
no-delay mandates.

Section 3 triggers a "publicly available" obligation for Corresponding
Resource when the work is operated to provide functionality to third
parties over a network. Section 14 requires "equivalent access" for all
recipients "without discrimination, delay, or additional restriction," and
Section 16 treats staged releases or selective disclosure for "commercial
or strategic advantage" as a violation.

I understand the policy goal, but this goes beyond what OSD explicitly
requires and may strongly constrain distribution and business workflows. I
am curious how others see the tradeoff here.


2026/1/21 21:09 M.samet Duman via License-review <
license-review at lists.opensource.org>:

> Hello license-review list,
>
> I am submitting the Project Tick General Public License, Version 1.0,
> for review and approval as an OSI-approved Open Source license.
>
> License name:
> Project Tick General Public License
>
> Version:
> Version 1.0 (17 January 2026)
>
> License text:
>
> [ATTACHMENT: PT-GPL-1.0.txt — plain text]
>
> License steward:
> Project Tick (https://projecttick.org/)
> Contact: dumanmehmetsamet at icloud.com
>
> Submitter:
> Mehmet Samet Duman, on behalf of the license steward
>
> Statement of compliance:
> I affirm that the Project Tick General Public License complies with the
> Open Source Definition, including OSD Sections 3, 5, 6, and 9.
>
> License category:
> New license
>
> Purpose and gap addressed:
> This license is intended to address gaps not fully covered by existing
> OSI approved copyleft licenses, particularly regarding:
> - Mandatory source availability for network-based operation of software
> - Prevention of discriminatory or selective access to corresponding source
> - Ensuring practical, timely, and non-obstructive access to source code
>
> Comparison to existing licenses:
> The license is most similar in spirit to the GNU GPL v3 and the AGPL v3,
> but differs materially in that it:
> - Treats public network operation as triggering source availability
> obligations
>   without introducing separate licensing layers
> - Explicitly prohibits selective, delayed, or discriminatory access to
> source
> - Clarifies compliance expectations in SaaS and hosted environments
>
> Legal review:
> This license was authored by the license steward without formal legal
> counsel.
> However, it has been iteratively reviewed for internal consistency and
> alignment with the Open Source Definition.
>
> Existing usage:
> The license is newly published and currently used by Project Tick projects.
>
> Thank you for your time and review. I am available to answer questions
> and participate actively in the review process.
>
> Best regards,
> Mehmet Samet Duman
> _______________________________________________
> The opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and not
> necessarily those of the Open Source Initiative. Communication from the
> Open Source Initiative will be sent from an opensource.org email address.
>
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>
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>


-- 
Shuji Sado
Chairman, Open Source Group Japan
https://opensource.jp/
English blog: https://shujisado.org/
Japanese blog: https://shujisado.com/
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