|
|
|
|
|
|
by aleksi
1163 days ago
|
|
|
Let's say you bought that storage system: https://www.dell.com/en-us/dt/storage/powerstore-storage-app... AFAIK, it doesn't come with complete source code, and you could not request all of it. Let's say you decided to run MongoDB as a service, and you are fine with releasing Service Source Code under SSPL. The problem is – you can't. You don't own the source code for your NAS and can't relicense it. Nothing in the text says, "relicense all you can, and then you are fine". Clause 13 puts requirements on software that are completely unrelated in terms of copyright. > I am confused. If you use a custom storage system then you would have the code for it. No? Nothing in the license text says that the storage system has to be custom. > The idea you need to release code for the os, file system, network routers, etc is absurd. I agree with you that this is absurd. But that's what the license text says. I suggest you read section 13, not MongoDB's FAQs or other explanations of how it works. The actual legal tech is very different from what you seem to think it is. |
|
|
If you make the functionality of the Program or a modified version available to third parties as a service, you must make the… SNIP …programs that you use to make the Program or modified version available as a service…
I’m eliding for clarity, but the NAS doesn’t make the program available as a service. The code that accesses the file system on the NAS to offer your service? Probably need to release code that calls fread/fwrite/NtFileX in your infrastructure code.
I get that it sounds vague and everything, but the FAQ also clarifies none of this applies unless you’re competing and targeting third parties. If you’re one of the few companies who want to do that, your legal team can formalize the line of demarcation.
Apologies, I hate defending the SSPL, but I can’t think of any better way to stop the monopolistic and EEE practices against open source projects. If anyone has a better solution to protect the freedoms of open-source developers, please, please publish it!