Business Basic Systems Corporation (BBSysco) offers MicroShare
Basic under a dual licensing model: GNU - General Public License
(GPLv2) or a Commercial License.
The dual licensing model provides several advantages over the
traditional commercial software licensing arrangements. One main
advantage is that you can try before you buy. This eliminates
complicated negotiations to acquire the software simply to
perform acceptance testing. Another benefit is that no matter
which type of license you choose you benefit from the
contributions of the whole community. Even if you decide on the
commercial license, you still have access to the source code via
the GPL channel.
The guiding principle behind dual licensing is that of fair
trade, or quid pro quo ("something for
something"). The two types of licensees receive technically
the same core MicroShare Basic product, features and
functionality from BBSysco.
The Open Source Licensees obtain the core product
under the reciprocal open source license (GPL).
As required by GPL this user segment returns valuable feedback,
contributions, and derivative works back to the community and the
core product. In addition, if it itself is involved in software
distribution, it must publish its software source for the
betterment of all.
The Commercial Licensees obtain MSB under commercial
licenses, which, among other obligations, release them from the
requirements to publish their source code. This user group
contributes license fees that fuel in-house core MicroShare
development by BBSysco. However, both the commercial and open
source communities still benefit, because the revenue generated
by commercial customers ensures that dual-licensed software
products will be developed and supported by a viable company.
Perhaps the only down side to a dual licensing model is having
to decide which license works best for you. However, now you have
a choice.
If you are an end user and you will be using the software only
for your own personal or internal use, and do not plan to provide
copies or distribute the software to anyone else then you can use
MicroShare Basic under the terms of the GPL License. (details)
If you are developing and distributing open source
applications under the GPL License, then you can use MicroShare
Basic under the terms of the GPL License. (details)
For software developers, ISVs, and or VARs who distribute or
need to use MicroShare Basic with their application and do not
license or distribute it under the GPL, BBSysco provides a
commercial licensing option consistent with most other commercial
software licensing arrangements. (details)
Note: A commercial license would be required to distribute
free demo versions of any application that it itself is not
distributed under GPL or to run an application or software that
you did not create yourself and was not or is not covered by a
GPL license.
Support and Technical Assistance:
BBSysco provides both support and technical assistance, as a
service, to companies and or individuals using either the GPL
licensed or commercial licensed versions of MicroShare Basic.
These services may be billable.
In general, if you are distributing an application that uses
MSB and has a commercial value, you will require a commercial
license but if you are not certain we would glad to assist you in
evaluating which type of license is most appropriate for you to
use.
