restricting the use of open source software

[Julien Fer]

thank you all for your responses, and i agree with all the points made.

jf


On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 23:54:35 +0100, Benjamin Rossen <b.rossen at onsnet.nu> wrote:
> Julien,
> 
> Such a license would not be an Open Source License, since these expressly
> require that you place no restrictions on who may use the software, nor on
> what the software may be used for. You could make your own license, but it
> would not be an OSL.
> 
> However, you have a greater problems than finding a suitable license.
> 
> First you need to define clearly what a military institution is. Would you
> include the Coast Guard? Boarder Patrol? Customs Police? UN Peace Keepers?
> What about secret services and intelligence agencies? What about police; do
> they become military when they share resources and information with military
> organizations?
> 
> Second you would need to have some way of enforcing your license. Since by
> definition military organizations are secretive in many things, and powerful
> in most, you would have almost no means to ensure that the military
> institutions under your definition do not use your software.
> 
> You would find that it is neigh impossible to define the terms of your license
> satisfactorily, and certainly impossible to be sure of enforcing your terms.
> 
> Benjamin Rossen
> 
> 
> On Friday 25 March 2005 23:31, Julien Fer wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am interesting in learning about any open source license with the
> > particular feature that it forbids use of the software in any
> > military application and within  military institutions.
> > Does anyone know of such a license, or if a modifying clause to an
> > existing license (ideally GPL) can possibly add this restriction?
> >
> > Many thanks for any information,
> >
>