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View Full Version : Darn it Jim, I'm not a lawyer!



pendell
2012-02-24, 09:51 AM
So here I am converting a java program into a windows service. For this purpose, I am considering Tanuki Software's wrapper program.

And I can't stand their licensing structure at all (http://wrapper.tanukisoftware.com/doc/english/licenseOverview.html).

So far as I can tell , they give away one edition for free and sell two other versions with more features. There are also three licenses they sell for each of the three editions. So if you're an open source project, you want the community license and the community edition. If you don't want to disclose source code, you want the development or server license with one of the three editions.

So do I want a community license with a community edition, or a development license with a community edition, or a server license with a standard edition, or do I want a great leaping mounds of happiness isn't it enough to troubleshoot NP-complete and NP-hard without needing a thrice-beloved law degree as well?

BTW, I'm not asking for advice. Forum rules prohibit it. Besides which, I have company people who can help sort those issues out. It's still annoying.

Grumblingly,

Brian P.

The Succubus
2012-02-24, 10:43 AM
Obligatory XKCD strip: http://xkcd.com/501/

Anarion
2012-02-24, 10:47 AM
Just remember, these multiple licensing agreements exist now because of other people complaining loudly during product development. Somewhere, there's one person/company for whom a particular licensing and program copy makes everything perfect for them.

pendell
2012-02-24, 11:17 AM
Quite. It's a "what fits the business best" question combined with a "what will the lawyers say" question. None of which implies that it's a technical person's job to sort out the business needs and legal issues just because the end product is computer-related.


Respectfully,

Brian P.