this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
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Programming
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I'm not confusing the two. If I copy the "source available" and accidently remember it in a "commercial" product, I'm technically hooped. It's considered derivative work and therefore I'm in violation of the license. Regardless if I'm a simple app dev or Google.
Also, like I said a few times now. I done own the code I contribute. Technically meaning if you contribute code, and use that snippet in a commercial context, again, your in violation of the license.
This is why copy left is the defacto standard. The author of the code retains copywrite ownership of it.
Your still resolving solved problems.
Ooooh, wait. I think I understood one of your points better now...
So, I think you're saying, what if you contribute some code to a source available project, maybe some boilerplate that's the same everywhere, and then you use that same contribution in a commercial product? Then you'd be in violation of the source available license? Is that what you're saying?
This seems like a good reason NOT to contribute to a source available project, which is totally fine. Whereas this is possible with GPL if you 100% own the code and didn't sign a CLA.
However, not all projects are "I want everyone to pitch in and I want everyone to own the project." There are lots of projects where 1 dude or 1 company want to retain ownership of their app and don't need or want outside contributors. Normally, they'd probably just be closed source—maybe they might consider being source available.
(Just as long as they don't pretend to be Open Source™, in which case fuck them.)
What's the point of source available if I'm never allowed to derive value from it?
FUTO specifically allows you to derive value from a project like this:
Yes, it's a different set of value than Open Source™ gives you. Again, they're not claiming to provide the same value as Open Source™. (They're also not trying to replace Open Source™.) Yes, it's not the value that you want. Yes, that's by design.
Do you also think, what's the point of Google Search, Windows, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, etc if you can't derive any "value" from it, where "value" means Open Source™ value? Those apps are still insanely valuable to users, even if they don't get Open Source™ value from them.
So the first line of what you quite says you can't.
I'm a professional developer. If I learn and use it in my job, I'm in violation of the licese.
What I mean by value is the ability to learn and use it as you wish. Without worry of if your going against a license.