Apache Foundation disallows use of the Facebook “BSD+Patent” license

Post by pmontra » Sun, Jul 16, 2017, 4:57 AM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #60

TheAceOfHearts wrote: post #9

In the discussion they say RocksDB will be relicensed under dual license Apache 2 and GPL 2. There's already an issue [0] asking them to consider doing something similar for react, and Dan Abramov said he'd route the request internally on the next work day. I can't imagine they'd keep the existing license without harming their community image. But even if they keep the license, many applications should be able to eas…

What patents do you imagine Facebook might have on React's concepts that Preact would not also violate?

Post by rosser » Sun, Jul 16, 2017, 5:06 AM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #90

rosser wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a de facto one-way "all your patents are available to us" grant, because you can't sue them if they violate any patents you may have, without ceding your l̶i̶c̶e̶n̶s̶e̶ ability to use React. EDIT: better?

> without ceding your license to use React. Ceding your license to use any patents Facebook may or may not have on React. There's a difference.

Post by bonoetmalo » Sun, Jul 16, 2017, 5:08 AM UTC

objclxt wrote: post #72

DannyBee wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Considering almost every single large tech company is using React, presumably there's not much reason for concern? IANAL. " Actually, React is banned at a number of them, and i've personally discussed the issue with a number of fairly concerned counsel. So for better or for worse, i don't believe this is as simple as you make it out to be.

Off the top of my head big users of React include: * Apple (their entire dev docs site is built in it, and they've hosted Bay Area React user meet-ups) * Twitter (for their mobile web) * Microsoft (parts of Visual Studio use it) * Netflix (all over their frontend stack) ...as well as Dropbox, AirBnb, Venmo... So whilst I don't doubt you've discussed it with concerned counsel, there are huge corporations deploying Rea…

Post by thelarkinn » Sun, Jul 16, 2017, 5:14 AM UTC

bonoetmalo wrote: post #105

objclxt wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Off the top of my head big users of React include: * Apple (their entire dev docs site is built in it, and they've hosted Bay Area React user meet-ups) * Twitter (for their mobile web) * Microsoft (parts of Visual Studio use it) * Netflix (all over their frontend stack) ...as well as Dropbox, AirBnb, Venmo... So whilst I don't doubt you've discussed it with concerned counsel, there are huge corporations deploying Rea…

Can you add a short elaboration on the visual Studio bit? I use visual studio every day in my day job and am very curious how react fits into that.

Post by learc83 » Sun, Jul 16, 2017, 5:24 AM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #56

TheAceOfHearts wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering almost every single large tech company is using React, presumably there's not much reason for concern? IANAL. But you're not wrong, preact is a great alternative to react and it comes with a permissive license.

If you're concerned about React, then Preact is actually significantly worse. Consider: The risk for React is based on 1) speculation that Facebook has patents on core React concepts and 2) the fact that patent grant that comes with React terminates in some situations if you end up in conflict with Facebook. So for safety, it might be better to make sure you use code that Facebook has no patents on, which (if (1) abo…