[DHMO]

Was not aware of this until reading:

"Your license to use React.js can be revoked if you compete with Facebook"

http://react-etc.net/entry/your-license-to-use-react-js-can-...

This is the scariest part to me:

"The library is open sourced under BSD, but it comes with an added patent clause that you should be aware of."

https://github.com/facebook/react/blob/master/PATENTS

From reading more, it appears that Facebook can just terminate your right to use their patents, but not React. However, it isn't clear to me what is patented and what rights you lose.

Related past discussions here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9271331

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11270213

On the bright side, it's said that Apple and Google are ok with the latest version:

https://github.com/facebook/react/pull/3554#issuecomment-235...

[rtpg]

It's not if you compete with Facebook, it's if you engage in patent litigation with Facebook.

This is a Mutually Assured Destruction clause for patent fights, nothing more.

[DHMO]

I was quoting. Did you read everything that I wrote? I thought I did a pretty good job telling the entire story.

[rtpg]

Right, if you look at the contents of the license in the discussion, they are variants of "if you try to fight us with patents, we will deny you a license/patents".

So you can compete with FB without losing a license. The first blog post you quoted shows a misunderstanding of the license (the word "compete" doesn't show up in the license).

So the correct representation is "If you claim patent infringement by FB, you can lose the license.". This is what the linked comments say, but what your summarised statement didn't properly capture (hence my comment).

[meira]

Or if Facebook claim patent infringement against you. So what he summarised is right.

[cellis]

The excerpt in the article is more accurate; if you initiate a patent infringement claim against FB, you forfeit your rights to use react. Seems fair to me.