I am writing some software that (for once – usually I open source stuff on sourceforge/github/etc.) I plan on selling. To each source file, I want to attach a proprietary software license that doesn’t allow anyone to use, modify, derive, etc. the software (and source code) without my express permission.
I have been looking at the Microsoft Reference Source Licensing and would be happy to use that, however I’m not sure if I can (legally).
So I ask: in the same way that there are well-known an regarded open source software licenses (ASL, GNU, etc.), are there well-know proprietary licenses that are “open” in the sense that I could use them to protect my product? Thanks in advance!
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No, there are none that are particularly well regarded, mostly because there aren’t very many at all.
Companies that don’t free their products are usually VERY wary of letting ANYONE see the source under any circumstances. When they do, they usually want a pile of legal paperwork.
I do have to ask what you hope to accomplish by using such a license. I can envision very few circumstances where anyone who buys your software is going to care about the source code to a product they aren’t allowed to modify.
If I were going to sell a product, then I’d simply keep the source to myself. If someone has a really good reason and need, you can negotiate a look at the source on an individual basis.
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