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PolyForm Project Licenses

repository·1.0.0·Indexed 42 days ago

https://github.com/polyformproject/polyform-licenses

A collection of standardized, plain-language software source code licenses designed for specific use cases. The suite includes variations such as PolyForm-Noncommercial 1.0.0, PolyForm-Free-Trial 1.0.0, PolyForm-Internal-Use 1.0.0, PolyForm-Perimeter 1.0.0, PolyForm-Small-Business, PolyForm-Strict, and PolyForm-Shield to address constraints around commercial use, trial periods, internal operations, and non-compete requirements.

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What's inside PolyForm

  1. Overview of PolyForm Project Licenses

    1.0.0

    The PolyForm Project provides a suite of simple, standardized, plain-language software source code licenses. These licenses are designed to fill specific gaps in standard licensing menus, such as providing terms for non-commercial use, trial periods, or small-business-only usage.

    Each license is developed by a group of licensing lawyers and technologists to offer standardized variations similar to the Creative Commons suite.

  2. Understand the PolyForm Small Business License 1.0.0

    1.0.0
    The PolyForm Small Business License 1.0.0 is a conditional license that permits the use of software for companies meeting specific size and revenue thresholds. It grants rights for copyright use, distribution, making changes, and patent use, provided the user adheres to strict obligations regarding notices, patent defense, and violation remediation.

  3. Understand the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0

    1.0.0

    The PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0 is a license designed to permit use of software for noncommercial purposes while restricting commercial exploitation.

    Permitted Purposes

    • Noncommercial Purposes: Any use that is not for commercial gain.
    • Personal Uses: Research, experimentation, testing for public knowledge, personal study, private entertainment, hobby projects, amateur pursuits, or religious observance (provided there is no anticipated commercial application).
    • Noncommercial Organizations: Use by charitable organizations, educational institutions, public research organizations, public safety/health organizations, environmental protection organizations, or government institutions is permitted, regardless of their funding sources.

    Key Restrictions and Conditions

    • Distribution: You may only distribute the software according to the Distribution License terms.
    • Modifications: Changes or new works must follow the Changes and New Works License terms.
    • Sublicensing: You cannot sublicense or transfer your licenses to anyone else.
    • Patent Defense: If you make a written claim that the software infringes on a patent, your patent license granted under these terms ends immediately.

  4. Understand the PolyForm Strict License 1.0.0

    1.0.0
    The PolyForm Strict License 1.0.0 is a restrictive license designed to permit noncommercial use while prohibiting the distribution of the software or the creation of derivative works. It provides copyright and patent licenses for permitted purposes but imposes strict conditions on how the software is used and handled.

  5. Understand the PolyForm Internal Use License 1.0.0

    1.0.0

    The PolyForm Internal Use License 1.0.0 is a specialized license designed for software that is permitted for internal business operations but strictly prohibits distribution.

    Key Permissions

    • Internal Business Use: You may use the software for the internal business operations of yourself and your company.
    • Copyright License: You are granted a license to perform actions that would otherwise infringe the licensor's copyright for any permitted purpose.
    • Changes and New Works: You are granted a license to make changes or create new works based on the software.
    • Patent License: You are granted a patent license covering claims the licensor can license that would be infringed by using the software.

    Key Restrictions

    • No Distribution: You may not distribute the software.
    • No Sublicensing: You cannot sublicense or transfer your licenses to anyone else.
    • Patent Defense Clause: If you make a written claim that the software infringes a patent, your patent license ends immediately. If your company makes such a claim, the license ends for all work done on behalf of your company.

    Compliance and Violations

    If you are notified of a violation, you have a 32-day grace period from the receipt of notice to come into full compliance and take practical steps to correct past violations. If you fail to do so, all licenses granted under these terms end immediately.

  6. Understand the PolyForm Free Trial License 1.0.0

    1.0.0

    The PolyForm Free Trial License 1.0.0 is a restrictive license designed specifically for software evaluation. It allows an individual or company to use the software to determine if it suits a particular application, provided the evaluation period is strictly limited.

    Key Constraints

    • Duration: Use is permitted for less than 32 consecutive calendar days.
    • Distribution: You may not distribute copies of the software.
    • Modifications: You may make changes or new works, but these are subject to the specific terms of the Changes and New Works License section.
    • Patent Defense: Your patent license terminates immediately if you make any written claim that the software infringes on any patent.
    • Violations: Any violation of these terms results in the immediate termination of all granted licenses.

  7. Identify permitted purposes under PolyForm Strict 1.0.0

    1.0.0

    Under this license, use is permitted for the following categories:

    • Noncommercial Purposes: Any purpose that is not commercial.
    • Personal Uses: Research, experimentation, testing for public knowledge, personal study, private entertainment, hobby projects, amateur pursuits, or religious observance (provided there is no anticipated commercial application).
    • Noncommercial Organizations: Use by charitable organizations, educational institutions, public research organizations, public safety/health organizations, environmental protection organizations, or government institutions (regardless of their funding source).

    Note: These terms do not limit your legal "fair use" rights.

  8. Understand the PolyForm Shield License 1.0.0

    1.0.0

    The PolyForm Shield License is a non-compete license. It grants rights to use, modify, and distribute software, but strictly prohibits using the software to create any product that competes with the software itself or with any products provided by the licensor or its affiliates.

    Key restrictions include:

    • Noncompete: You cannot provide any product that competes with the software or the licensor's products.
    • Competition Definition: Competition is defined broadly. It includes products with different interfaces, technical platforms, or programming languages. Even free products can be considered competing if they act as a practical substitute.
    • Patent Defense: Your patent license ends immediately if you make a written claim that the software infringes on any patent.
    • No Sublicensing: You cannot sublicense or transfer your licenses to others.

  9. Understand the PolyForm Perimeter License 1.0.0

    1.0.0

    The PolyForm Perimeter License 1.0.0 is a restrictive license designed to allow broad use of software while strictly prohibiting use in products that compete with the original software.

    Key Constraints:

    • Noncompete: You cannot use the software for any purpose that involves providing a product to others that competes with the software.
    • Competition Definition: A product competes if it is marketed as a substitute for the functionality or value of the software. This applies regardless of design, deployment method (services, libraries, plug-ins), platform, language, or whether it is provided for free.
    • Patent Defense: Your patent license terminates immediately if you make a written claim that the software infringes on a patent. If your company makes such a claim, the license ends for all work performed on behalf of that company.
    • No Sublicensing: You cannot sublicense or transfer your licenses to others.

    Permitted Actions:

    • Copyright Use: You can use the software for any permitted purpose (non-competing).
    • Distribution: You may distribute copies of the software and changes/new works, provided you follow the Distribution and Changes/New Works requirements.

  10. Rules for modifying PolyForm licenses

    1.0.0

    When using PolyForm licenses, contributors grant permission to do everything that would otherwise infringe their copyright. However, if you modify a PolyForm license text, you must follow this requirement:

    • Remove all mentions of "PolyForm" and polyformproject.org from the modified text.

    Note: PolyForm licenses are provided "as is", without any warranty, and contributors are not liable for any damages related to the licenses or their use.

  11. Determine if your company qualifies as a 'Small Business'

    1.0.0

    To use the software for the benefit of your company under this license, your company must meet both of the following criteria:

    1. Employee/Contractor Count: Fewer than 100 total individuals working as employees and independent contractors.
    2. Revenue: Less than 1,000,000 USD (2019) total revenue in the prior tax year.

    Note: The revenue threshold should be adjusted for inflation according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index (CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted, 1982–1984=100 reference base).

  12. Avoid competition violations under PolyForm Perimeter

    1.0.0

    The license prohibits using the software for any purpose that provides a product competing with the software.

    What constitutes competition:

    • Marketing a product as a substitute for the functionality or value of the software.
    • Competition applies regardless of design, deployment, or interface (including services, libraries, plug-ins, or different platforms/languages).
    • Competition applies even if the product is provided free of charge.

    Patent Defense Clause: If you make a written claim that the software infringes on any patent, your patent license for the software ends immediately. If your company makes such a claim, the license ends for all work performed on behalf of your company.