Hacker Timesnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

  GPLv3 with a commercial exception
Thx. Do you mean GPL + my custom addendum ? How do you write it if you're not versed in `legalese` jargon ?


https://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/selling-exceptions for a little philosophy behind it, however it will always be the GPL OR a commercial licence rather than an amalgam of the two


Notably, the FSF recommends against[1] modifying the GPL. And, you'd want to hire a lawyer to go over whatever scheme you're thinking of.

It's easier to draft a separate license agreement if you're the sole copyright holder.

If you're not the sole rights holder, if your project contains other GPL code, you'll need permission from the authors to license under terms other than the GPL. That would include patches from other authors, unless they sign the rights over to you.

[1]: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#ModifyGPL


Hire a lawyer to do it for you?




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: