Legal Information

RedNeckSnailSpit Open Source Licensing

TL;DR: Free for non-profit use under GPL v3. Commercial use requires a paid license. If you're making money from my code, I get a cut. Simple as that.

Dual Licensing Model

All software projects by RedNeckSnailSpit are dual-licensed:

Non-Commercial / Non-Profit Use

License: GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0)

Permitted users:

Important Clarification: "Non-profit" means no revenue is generated beyond documented operational costs, regardless of your organization's legal structure, registration status, or stated mission. The specific terminology or legal categories used in your jurisdiction are irrelevant — if you profit, you need a commercial license.

Full license text: GNU GPL v3.0

Under GPL v3, you are free to use, modify, and distribute the software, provided that:

Commercial / For-Profit Use

License: Custom Commercial License (negotiated per case)

Definition of commercial use: Any use that generates revenue beyond documented operational costs, regardless of legal structure, jurisdiction, or stated mission.

If your use qualifies as commercial, you require a commercial license. This includes but is not limited to:

No Default Commercial License: No license is granted for commercial or for-profit use of the software or any derivative works unless explicitly agreed to in writing. Using this software or derivative works for commercial purposes without a license agreement constitutes copyright infringement.

Attribution Requirements

All uses of the software require proper attribution unless explicit written permission to omit it has been granted:

Attribution should be visible in:

Branding and Trademarks

You may modify branding elements (logos, names, icons, etc.) in the software as needed for your use case. You may not use the software or any modifications to make false statements of fact about any person or entity. Opinions, statements of personal identity, and factually accurate claims are not restricted by this clause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I run a for-profit company but want to use your software internally. Do I need a commercial license?

A: Yes. If your company operates for profit, you need a commercial license, even for internal use. Contact me to discuss terms.

Q: I'm a non-profit organization. Can we use GPL v3?

A: Yes, as long as you genuinely operate without profit motive. Non-profit organizations qualify for GPL v3 licensing at no cost. Just ensure you comply with GPL v3 terms.

Q: We're a for-profit hospital/private school. Do we need a commercial license?

A: Yes. "Non-profit" means no revenue is generated beyond documented operational costs, regardless of your organization's legal structure, registration status, or jurisdiction. If you generate profit, you need a commercial license.

Q: What if we're a for-profit company that wants to open-source our modifications under GPL?

A: No. The GPL v3 option is only available for non-commercial use. Licensing your modifications under GPL v3 does not grant you the right to use my software commercially. If you profit, you need a commercial license — full stop.

Q: We're hosting the software for others at-cost to cover server fees. Is that commercial?

A: No. Hosting at-cost or below-cost with no profit margin is non-commercial use under GPL v3. Note that this only covers hosting — you may not sell, bundle, or otherwise use or distribute the software or any derivative works in any manner that generates revenue.

Q: I modified the software (changed some code, branding, etc.). Does the license still apply?

A: Yes. Derivative works are still covered by this license. If you're using or distributing a modified version for profit, you need a commercial license. If distributing a modified version non-commercially, GPL v3 requires you to release those modifications under GPL v3 as well.

Q: What are the commercial license terms?

A: Commercial licenses are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Factors include your company size, use case, revenue generated from the software, and the ethical nature of your business — including but not limited to data practices, user treatment, and societal impact. Projects that advance society or operate with strong ethical principles may receive more favourable terms. Fill out the contact form below to start the conversation.

Q: Can we get an exception or discount on the commercial license?

A: Maybe. Factors like company size, revenue, and the nature of your work all play a role. A solo developer or early-stage startup will be treated very differently from a large corporation. If you're doing something genuinely beneficial, that counts in your favour too. Reach out and make your case.

Q: What if we're already using your software commercially without a license?

A: Contact me. If you're acting in good faith, we can work out a retroactive arrangement. Continued use without making contact will be treated as wilful infringement and handled accordingly.

Q: Do you provide DMCA agent services or handle user content issues?

A: No. My software is self-hosted — you deploy it, you control it, you are responsible for the content on your instance. DMCA and content moderation are your responsibility, not mine.

Contact for Commercial Licensing

Interested in a commercial license? Fill out the form below. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.