[License-review] Review request for "CingXaero Open Source License (COL)"

[Simon Phipps]

This is sufficiently common that I wrote a short note about it:
https://the.webm.ink/just-obey-the-law

S.
(in a personal capacity)



On Mon, 8 Dec 2025, 16:47 McCoy Smith, <mccoy at lexpan.law> wrote:

> the main problem for this one is that the "no restrictions" and "Do not
> use the Software for illegal activities" are in complete conflict.
> restricting illegal activities *is* a restriction and violates OSD 6.
>
> I'd also note that if this is to be interpreted under PRC law, there are
> quite a number of things that might be considered "illegal" in the PRC
> that would be considered perfectly legal in other countries (and, I
> suspect, vice versa). Which is why these sorts of illegality
> restrictions are a problem with the OSD.
>
> And, BTW, these sorts of clauses aren't really needed anyway. If
> something you do with the software is illegal in a particular
> jurisdiction, the law already prohibits it. You don't need the license
> to tell you not to do it.
>
> On 12/7/2025 12:40 AM, CouerDev库里地夫 via License-review wrote:
> > Dear OSI License Review Committee,
> >
> > We hereby submit the "CingXaero Open Source License (COL) version 0.2"
> > for your consideration as an OSI-approved open source license.
> >
> > COL is a strong copyleft license designed to ensure that derivative
> > works remain open and freely available. Its key features include:
> > - Requirement of full source code disclosure for any distributed
> > derivative work.
> > - Applicability to static linking, dynamic linking, embedding,
> > packaging, and network-based services (network infectiousness).
> > - Preservation of copyright and modification notices.
> > - Prohibition of illegal uses only (no restriction on fields of
> > endeavor).
> >
> > We believe COL meets all criteria of the Open Source Definition (OSD).
> > Please find attached:
> > 1. Full license text (LICENSE file)
> > 2. OSD-Compliance-Notes.md – detailed clause-by-clause justification
> > 3. FAQ.md – common questions and clarifications
> >
> > Contact information:
> > Name: [CouerDev / CingXaero Team]
> > Email: [3967506869 at qq.com]
> > Repository: [https://codeberg.org/CingXaeroTeam/col-license-test]
> >
> > We welcome your review and feedback, and are ready to make revisions
> > to achieve compliance.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > [CingXaero Team / CouerDev]
> >
>
>
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