Future of a ServiceStack based Solution in the Context of Licensing

Question

I just want someone to clarify the following questions as Demis Bellot had announced a couple of weeks ago that ServiceStack would go commercial. Refer link below.

https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z12tfvoackvnx1xzd04cfrirpvybu1nje54

(Please note that when I say ServiceStack or SS I refer to all associated SS libraries such as ServiceStack.Text, etc.)

1. If I have a solution already developed using ServiceStack today will I have to purchase a license once SS goes commercial even if I don't upgrade the SS binaries to the commercial release version?

2. Will previous versions of SS (prior to commercial licensing) always be opensource and use the same license as before?

3. If I fork SS today (prior to commercial licensing) on Github, would it be illegal to maintain that after SS goes commercial?

4. If the answer to question 2 is yes, then would I still be able to fork a previous version after SS goes commercial without worrying about the commercial license (all the while maintaining and releasing the source to the public)?

Answer 1

The best way to get a definitive answer is to ask them. But I will give you my interpretation anyhow.

Basically, they cannot revoke the license they granted you on the existing code. And from my reading of the message you linked to, they expect to keep the existing BSD based code available but will not be doing any work on it.

So to take your questions:

If I have a solution already developed using ServiceStack today will I have to purchase a license once SS goes commercial even if I don't upgrade the SS binaries to the commercial release version?

No you will not need to purchase a license, just keep using the existing BSD licensed version.

Will previous versions of SS (prior to commercial licensing) always be opensource and use the same license as before?

Yes. They have granted you a license on the existing releases.

If I fork SS today (prior to commercial licensing) on Github, would it be illegal to maintain that after SS goes commercial?

No it would not be illegal.

If the answer to question 2 is yes, then would I still be able to fork a previous version after SS goes commercial without worrying about the commercial license (all the while maintaining and releasing the source to the public)?

Yes, you may fork the old version. But remember they are under no obligation to keep the old code around so you may discover that suddenly the old version is no longer on their site but that doesn't change the rights they granted you to use the old version.

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I will repeat my earlier statement: Ask them. Especially if you are building a commercial solution, it's worth getting their official position on the licensing of the existing code.

Answer 2

1. No, you do not have to purchase a license to keep using your existing version of ServiceStack (version 3) once a commercial version 4 is released.

2. Yes, you can still use existing versions of ServiceStack under the permissive BSD licenses with which they were released.

3. No, it is not illegal to fork Version 3 of SS (and maintain that fork), because the license under which it was released allows you to do so.

4. Yes, you may fork previous versions of SS (version 3) even after commercial versions (version 4+) are released. However, as another answer mentions, SS is under no obligation to provide the world with old versions. (It may be in their interest to remove it from the web.) However, rather than creating your own fork, may I suggest considering getting behind one of the community forks:

   a) NServiceKit - "a forever free, open source fork of ServiceStack V3"

   b) NuStack - "Providing a public, non commercial, user maintained version of Service Stack libraries."