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by busterarm 1901 days ago
The SSPL literally violates Freedom 0.

> The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).

And though we're talking about open source instead of free software, without Freedom 0, the software still might as well be proprietary.

Edit: It also violates Rules 1, 5, 6 & 9 of the OSD. So no, let's not call it "open source"
2 comments
galaxyLogic 1901 days ago
Could you provide a link to explain how it violates "Rules 1, 5, 6 & 9 of the OSD"? Thanks
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busterarm 1901 days ago
Common freaking sense reading.

https://opensource.org/osd

If you can't use the software because you're a cloud provider, that's rules 1, 5 and 6 easy.

If using it forces you to relicense all of your code under the SSPL that's rule 9.

It is well known at this point that the SSPL withdrew their request for recognition to the OSI because they do not meet the rules of the OSD.

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galaxyLogic 1899 days ago
> If you can't use the software because you're a cloud provider, that's rules 1, 5 and 6 easy.

I may be mistaken but I thought cloud-providers can use it and offer it for others to use as well, they just can't charge for that. But I may be wrong.

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merb 1901 days ago
by definition sspl only qualifies as a source available license but it restricts stuff in so many ways that it is basically propriatary, even for normal uses. btw. even open source licenses are not free or libre, they also restrict usages, just not as hard as most source available licenses. source code is not open if I'm restricted to use it in most cases without making everything open, it's available of course, but that limits my use case by a huge margin. even open source (osi) licenses do that, but in a way more fair manner, which does not discriminiate usages. heck I'm not even a fan of gpl 3 (especially agpl) , because I think they also discrimnate usages and are also poorly written (too much stuff that is hard to understand without a lawyer)
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ocdtrekkie 1901 days ago
This is incorrect, you are free to use the program if you wish, it just also, like the GPL, conveys requirements on open sourcing code you use with it. Open sourcing services without the necessary tools to run it isn't much good, so SSPL ensures the freedom to run your own better than GPL based licenses.
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busterarm 1901 days ago
no. get it right. if you are not free to run the program without additional stipulations, especially stipulations that dictate how you license _your_ code, then you are not free to use the program as you wish.

Literally, "as you wish". Stipulations is "as we wish".

And you can read it from the OSI themselves: "The SSPL is Not an Open Source License" https://opensource.org/node/1099

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ocdtrekkie 1901 days ago
The SSPL conveys no new stipulations not permitted by GPL-based licenses, it is just more inclusive in doing so.

If SSPL isn't open source, neither is the GPL.

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busterarm 1901 days ago
GPL carries no restrictions if you don't distribute the software.

The AGPL on the other hand, was a huge mistake, IMO.

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ocdtrekkie 1901 days ago
The AGPL was the first step in addressing a critical need to protect the users' right to run the software they use, the SSPL just continues that, as many services wouldn't be runnable without the support code around them.
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busterarm 1901 days ago
I hear what you're saying, but those whose mission is to encourage open source software don't call the SSPL anything but a source-available, proprietary software license. Like literally the organization that defined what "open source software" is.

While you may disagree, you aren't going to convince me to take your word over theirs, especially when I have come to the same conclusions they did on my own.

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DetroitThrow 1900 days ago
On a moral principle, AGPL levels the playing field fairly much like the GPL license, just the terms of distribution are updated for an age of software as a service. No one is exempted to the rules in AGPL like SSPL - it is intentionally viral, even if you'd dislike using it in many of your projects (though I think it's fair to say lawyers don't like the ambiguity of the language).

Just like some projects are best under LGPL instead of GPL, AGPL has its place in the toolkit of free software licensing.

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