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ssfdre38 merged 2 commits into from
Dec 30, 2025
Merged

Update LICENSE to BOSL Version 1.1 #1

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Copilot Dec 30, 2025
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Update LICENSE to BOSL Version 1.1
Copilot Dec 30, 2025
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261 changes: 42 additions & 219 deletions LICENSE
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,33 +1,32 @@
# The BarrerSoftware License (BSL)
## Version 1.0
# Barrer Open Source License (BOSL)
## Version 1.1

Copyright (c) 2025 BarrerSoftware

---

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

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

**Core Principle:**
## Preamble

"If it's free, it's free. Period."
This license governs software released by BarrerSoftware that is designated as FREE software.

Software under this license is provided to the community at
zero cost and MUST remain at zero cost forever.
**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:
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software to:

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

---
Expand All @@ -38,12 +37,12 @@ obtaining a copy of this software to:

**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
❌ 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.**
Expand All @@ -60,10 +59,10 @@ Any modified or derivative version MUST:

You MAY charge for SERVICES, not SOFTWARE:

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

❌ The software itself must remain free
Expand All @@ -72,13 +71,13 @@ You MAY charge for SERVICES, not SOFTWARE:

## Attribution Requirements

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

You MUST NOT:
**You MUST NOT:**
- Remove or alter copyright notices
- Claim you created the original software
- Imply BarrerSoftware endorses your version
Expand All @@ -87,8 +86,7 @@ You MUST NOT:

## Patent Grant

BarrerSoftware grants you a perpetual, worldwide,
non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free patent license to:
BarrerSoftware grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free patent license to:
- Use
- Make
- Have made
Expand All @@ -97,16 +95,15 @@ non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free patent license to:

this software.

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

---

## Rationale

### Why This License Exists

BarrerSoftware releases most software for FREE because:
BarrerSoftware releases software for FREE because:

1. **Built on free resources**
- We use public specifications
Expand All @@ -118,200 +115,26 @@ BarrerSoftware releases most software for FREE because:
- Students can't always afford software
- Developing countries need access
- Hobbyists deserve good tools
- Everyone should have opportunity

3. **Community over commerce**
- We profit from 2 paid products only
- Everything else is free
- If we don't profit from it, no one should
- Fair and ethical

### The Problem We're Solving

We've observed companies:
- Fork free/open source software
- Add minimal "enterprise features"
- Charge significant fees
- Profit from community work

**Examples:**
- Forked package managers sold as "enterprise"
- Free tools rebranded and monetized
- Community work exploited for profit

**BarrerSoftware will not allow this.**

### Our Commitment

BarrerSoftware's free software will NEVER:
- Be sold by us
- Be paywalled
- Have premium tiers
- Require subscriptions

**We set the example.**

**We enforce the rule.**

---

## Enforcement

### Violations

Using this software in violation of this license
(particularly commercialization) will result in:

1. **Public disclosure**
- Violator name published
- Violation details shared
- Community warned

2. **Legal action**
- Immediate cease and desist
- Injunction to stop distribution
- Recovery of all profits made
- Legal fees paid by violator

3. **Permanent ban**
- Excluded from BarrerSoftware ecosystem
- No future license grants
- Community blacklist

### Reporting Violations

If you encounter a paid version of BarrerSoftware
free software:

**Report immediately:**
- Email: legal@barrersoftware.com
- Subject: "BSL Violation - [Software Name]"
- Include: Evidence, links, pricing, screenshots

**We will:**
- Investigate within 24 hours
- Take immediate action
- Protect free access for all
- Update community on resolution

**Zero tolerance policy.**

---

## Disclaimer

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.

IN NO EVENT SHALL BARRERSOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY
CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION
OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR
IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE.

---

## Compatibility

### Compatible Licenses

Modified versions may use these licenses:
- BarrerSoftware License (this license)
- GNU GPL v3.0 (with non-commercial addendum)
- Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
- Any license that prohibits commercialization

### Incompatible Licenses

❌ MIT License (too permissive)
❌ Apache 2.0 (allows commercialization)
❌ BSD Licenses (allow commercialization)
❌ Any license permitting sale

---

## Special Provisions

### BarrerSoftware Paid Products

BarrerSoftware has TWO paid products:
- Velocity Panel
- CleanVM Enterprise

**These are NOT under this license.**

All other BarrerSoftware software is free and
under this license or compatible.

### Educational Use

Academic institutions MAY:
- Use in courses (free)
- Include in curriculum (free)
- Provide to students (free)
- Research and modify (free)

Academic institutions MUST NOT:
- Charge students for software access
- Include in paid course materials only
- Require purchase for participation

Education must remain accessible.

### Government Use

Government agencies MAY:
- Use for any purpose (free)
- Deploy widely (free)
- Modify for needs (free)

Government agencies MUST NOT:
- Charge other agencies for access
- Sell to contractors
- Create paid derivatives

Public software for public good.

---

## Philosophy

"If it's free, it's free. Period."

What we build for the community stays with the community.

No exploitation. No paywalls. No profit.

**Community over commerce.**

**Access over revenue.**

**Forever free.**

---

## Contact

**BarrerSoftware**

- Website: https://barrersoftware.com
- GitHub: https://github.com/barrersoftware
- License questions: legal@barrersoftware.com
- General: contact@barrersoftware.com

---
- Open source democratizes technology

## Version History
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

- **v1.0** (2025) - Initial release
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

---

🏴‍☠️ **BarrerSoftware - Building bridges, not walls**
## 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.

Copilot uses AI. Check for mistakes.

---

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