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License to ask for for custom software? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Skullgrid@lemmy.world to c/programming@programming.dev

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Someone I know asked me for a favour. They made an agreement with a software firm for some custom software for basically inventory on a web interface, generic DB+webserver. They need me to do updates to it as a favour.

It's handoff time. The guys are giving him some trouble. I let them know if I need to do maintainence and whatnot, I need the source code. The guys are saying no. I recommended we use a licence that basically says "Buyer can modify the software and source code, but not distrobute it. Creator can distrobute the software and whatever they want".

I've looked around, and I saw recommendations for :

source code escrow
internal-use license
Modified Source Code License
custom Restricted Source Code License
internal modification only licence

anyone have recommendations of specific licences?

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[–] Kissaki@programming.dev 16 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

If the original contract was for software without source code, you'll have to negotiate. I don't think it's helpful to look for options and licenses before knowing what they are ready to do and share and what restrictions they would require for that.

They would be very well within their right to outright refuse. The vendor-lock-in may even have been an explicit business strategy. I assume they offer maintenance, at a higher price than you would cost?

[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

I don't know. It's all up to ACQ, and I'm just offering to give techincal assistance, and for technical assistance, I need source code.