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by pmilot 2853 days ago
Doesn't this Commons Clause goes specifically against one of the core principles of Free Software? The whole idea is that a Free Software license should not restrict what you can do with said software.

Even the most restrictive FS licenses like GPL will not prevent me from selling consulting services around the product licensed under it.

If you combine this clause with a Free Software license, it sounds to me like it is no longer FS. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

2 comments

> Even the most restrictive FS licenses like GPL will not prevent me from selling consulting services around the product licensed under it.

At least this doesn't prevent buying those services. If I obtain the program from some party A, then A redistributed it to me. Then if I contract B to work on/with the software, B is not bound by the contract because they did not redistribute it to me. However, though I can pay B, neither of us can sell the enhancements though, if enhancements were made.

Moreover, I can't use the software to run any kind of business, because that's might be a product or service that arguably derives substantial value from the software.

Yup, it (whatever pieces are now under this new clause, it isn't clear, may just be some modules) is no longer free software.