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Is there a License that requires the user to donate if they make revenue? (lemmy.giftedmc.com)
submitted 7 months ago by haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com to c/opensource@lemmy.ml
143 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I tried a couple license finders and I even looked into the OSI database but I could not find a license that works pretty much like agpl but requiring payment (combined 1% of revenue per month, spread evenly over all FOSS software, if applicable) if one of these is true:

  • the downstream user makes revenue (as in "is a company" or gets donations)
  • the downstream distributor is connected to a commercial user (e.g. to exclude google from making a non profit to circumvent this license)

I ask this because of the backdoor in xz and the obviously rotten situation in billion dollar companies not kicking their fair share back to the people providing this stuff.

So, if something similar exists, feel free to let me know.

Thanks for reading and have a good one.

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[-] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago

From my experience, companies would rather just pay for a commercial license. Anything abnormal gets trashed and banned in my company.

I think it's more easy to understand "pay exactly this amount to use commercially" than the legal and accounting teams trying to work out how much to pay when you say 1% of their revenue to FOSS software. You can always donate the profits anyway

[-] jacksilver@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

App stores and game engines are examples where you are paying a percentage of revenue. Not that it makes this scenario make any more sense, but there are models out there that operate this way. However, in both you are working in pretty locked down environments.

[-] joeldebruijn@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Just a remark about "can donate profit anyway" which I understand for corporations doesnt apply to public and semi-public services (ofcourse).

Which often happens to be a target group that is well aware of public values etc and the notion of community-culture among each other. Often other libraries or other schools for example treat each other as collegues etc.

BUT those type of organisations arnt allowed to donate (Giving away taxmoney) AND often cant allocate developer time (because there arent any within those organizations).

Here (NL in EU) we depend on the same FOSS as everyone else, but cant donate. We do must look for other ways to contribute tho.

[-] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 0 points 7 months ago

Yeah, I get that. Its a tough topic, especially with many folks not trying to understand the point I was trying to make and trying to shut me down instead.

Dual license is probably the way to go then. Have a nice day and thanks for elaborating.

this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
111 points (79.7% liked)

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