this post was submitted on 31 May 2026
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Programming

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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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[โ€“] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Any company that sent me this far-into the weeds for them ghosted me or replied with un-reasonable terms when I came up with something appropriate. Usually they replied with a whole boiler-plate they had on-hand, but apparently wanted to pretend it was a negotiation, until they didn't. A couple times, the legal department on the other end got shitty with everyone and tried to act like their company had never and would never interact with a contractor who hadn't already signed terms I found exploitative and walked-away from when they wouldn't budge.

There are plenty of licenses out there that would work, but when you're two-companies removed from the legal offices of the company with the ultimate say, its never as simple as trusting your friend. That said, my limitted experiences with similar situations never involved an insider I was close with, so I mean it when I say I wish you the best of luck.

[โ€“] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

There are plenty of licenses out there that would work

I know there are plenty, that's why I'm asking for specific recommendations.

That said, my limitted experiences with similar situations never involved an insider I was close with, so I mean it when I say I wish you the best of luck.

thanks for the well wishes.