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Copilot AI commented Dec 30, 2025

Updates the license from "The BarrerSoftware License (BSL) Version 1.0" to "Barrer Open Source License (BOSL) Version 1.1" with streamlined content and updated branding.

Changes

  • License rebrand: BSL → BOSL (Barrer Open Source License)
  • Version bump: 1.0 → 1.1
  • Condensed rationale: Four focused points (built on free resources, accessibility, quality over profit, anti-exploitation) replacing lengthy explanations
  • Removed sections: Enforcement, disclaimer, compatibility, special provisions, philosophy, contact, version history
  • Added: Reference link to canonical version at https://barrersoftware.com/foss-license.html
  • Updated branding: Pirate flag emoji (🏴‍☠️) added to core principle, footer tagline simplified

File reduced from 318 to 140 lines while preserving all essential license terms, restrictions, and patent grants.

Original prompt

Update the LICENSE file to the Barrer Open Source License (BOSL) Version 1.1.

Replace the existing LICENSE file content with:

# Barrer Open Source License (BOSL)
## Version 1.1

Copyright (c) 2025 BarrerSoftware

---

## 🏴‍☠️ "If it's free, it's free. Period."

---

## Preamble

This license governs software released by BarrerSoftware that is designated as FREE software.

**Core Principle:** "If it's free, it's free. Period."

Software under this license is provided to the community at zero cost and MUST remain at zero cost forever.

---

## Grant of Rights

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software to:

✅ **USE** - Use the software for any purpose  
✅ **STUDY** - Examine how the software works  
✅ **MODIFY** - Make changes and improvements  
✅ **DISTRIBUTE** - Share copies with others  
✅ **CONTRIBUTE** - Submit improvements back

---

## Mandatory Restrictions

### 1. NO COMMERCIALIZATION

**YOU MUST NOT:**

❌ Sell this software or any derivative work  
❌ Charge fees for access to this software  
❌ Create paid tiers, editions, or versions  
❌ Implement subscription or licensing models  
❌ Bundle with paid products (unless this remains free)  
❌ Charge for downloads, installations, or usage  
❌ Monetize this software in ANY form

**This software MUST remain free.**

### 2. PERPETUAL FREE STATUS

Any modified or derivative version MUST:
- Remain under this license (or compatible)
- Stay free of charge forever
- Include this license in full
- Maintain attribution to BarrerSoftware

### 3. SERVICE EXCEPTION

You MAY charge for SERVICES, not SOFTWARE:

✅ Technical support contracts  
✅ Installation and setup services  
✅ Training and education  
✅ Custom integration work  
✅ Consulting services

❌ The software itself must remain free

---

## Attribution Requirements

**You MUST:**
- Keep copyright notices intact
- Include this license with all copies
- Credit BarrerSoftware in documentation
- Link to original source repository

**You MUST NOT:**
- Remove or alter copyright notices
- Claim you created the original software
- Imply BarrerSoftware endorses your version

---

## Patent Grant

BarrerSoftware grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free patent license to:
- Use
- Make
- Have made
- Import
- Distribute

this software.

If you initiate patent litigation against BarrerSoftware or this software, this license terminates.

---

## Rationale

### Why This License Exists

BarrerSoftware releases software for FREE because:

1. **Built on free resources**
   - We use public specifications
   - We study open source code
   - We learn from community work
   - What was given freely, must remain free

2. **Accessibility matters**
   - Students can't always afford software
   - Developing countries need access
   - Hobbyists deserve good tools
   - Open source democratizes technology

3. **Quality over profit**
   - We build what we want to use
   - Profit motives corrupt good design
   - Community feedback makes better software
   - Free software forces excellence

4. **Anti-exploitation**
   - We've seen companies take free software and profit billions
   - Original creators get nothing
   - We protect our work from being sold by others
   - Services are fine, selling software is not

---

## Full License Text

**Official Version:** https://barrersoftware.com/foss-license.html

---

**🏴‍☠️ BarrerSoftware - If it's free, it's free. Period.**

This pull request was created from Copilot chat.


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Copilot AI self-assigned this Dec 30, 2025
Co-authored-by: ssfdre38 <1365273+ssfdre38@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot AI changed the title [WIP] Update LICENSE file to Barrer Open Source License V1.1 Update LICENSE to BOSL Version 1.1 Dec 30, 2025
Copilot AI requested a review from ssfdre38 December 30, 2025 02:35
@ssfdre38 ssfdre38 marked this pull request as ready for review December 30, 2025 02:37
Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings December 30, 2025 02:37
@ssfdre38 ssfdre38 merged commit 397ab65 into master Dec 30, 2025
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Pull request overview

This PR updates the project's license from the BarrerSoftware License (BSL) Version 1.0 to the Barrer Open Source License (BOSL) Version 1.1, streamlining the content while maintaining core licensing terms around free software distribution and anti-commercialization restrictions.

Key changes:

  • Rebrands license name from BSL to BOSL with version bump to 1.1
  • Reduces file from 318 to 140 lines by removing enforcement, disclaimer, compatibility, special provisions, philosophy, contact, and version history sections
  • Condenses rationale from detailed explanations to four focused points
  • Adds pirate flag emoji branding and reference link to canonical version at barrersoftware.com

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## Full License Text

*What is given freely, must remain free.*
**Official Version:** https://barrersoftware.com/foss-license.html
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Copilot AI Dec 30, 2025

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The license references an "official version" at an external URL but doesn't clarify the relationship between this document and the canonical version. If discrepancies exist between this LICENSE file and the URL, it's unclear which takes precedence. Consider adding language that specifies whether this document is the controlling version or if the URL version supersedes it in case of conflicts.

Suggested change
**Official Version:** https://barrersoftware.com/foss-license.html
**Official Version:** https://barrersoftware.com/foss-license.html
In the event of any inconsistency between that webpage and this LICENSE file, the terms of this LICENSE file shall control.

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license change from 1.0 to 1.1

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