Dual License Grid
Mithral License A
This license would traditionally be known as an academic use license.
It guarantees that source is available, pure research can be done, and
generally the state of human knowledge can be advanced.
[very much like the current Cosm
license]
Mithral License B
The commercial use part of the license. Allowing for
commercial/private uses and closing of source. It extends the
License A allowing for uses involving personal and corporate gain
because everyone has bills to pay. Enterprise quality is expected
from anything placed under this license including support and
prompt problem resolution.
Goals
The goal is to construct a set of licenses that with the right
"settings" cover all current licensing schemes. This applies
not only to software but writings, databases, art, and other
intelectual creations as well. If an old application is no longer
maintained, you simply move it to the free setting - no more
re-licensing mess. Other attempts to create a one license solution
for software have failed in the past, hopefully this dual license
solution will work for everything.
Example Grid
| License A \ Licence B |
B - Not Available |
B - Free |
B - Low Cost |
B - High Cost |
| A - Not Available |
N/A |
Art, gifts, demos |
Shareware, music |
Commercial software, trade secrets |
| A - Free |
GPL License |
BSD License |
Publications (articles/papers), unpatented devices |
Commercial w/free academic use, patented devices |
| A - Low Cost |
irrational |
irrational |
Commercial w/source available |
Commercial w/academic pricing |
| A - High Cost |
irrational |
irrational |
irrational |
Commercial w/source available |
© Mithral Communications & Design Inc.
1995-2008.
All rights reserved.
Mithral® and Cosm® are trademarks of
Mithral Communications & Design Inc.