Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
techcrunch.com
Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
1–10 of 140 posts
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#2> “When we came out with this new license, there were many different views,” he acknowledged. “Some people condemned that. But after the initial noise calmed down — and especially after some other companies came out with a similar concept — the community now understands that the original concept of open source has to be fixed because it isn’t suitable anymore to the modern era where cloud companies use their monopoly power to adopt any successful open source project without contributing anything to it.”
So, is it true that HN now understands and is cool with Redis Labs "fixing" the concept of open source?
From reading previous threads on HN this seems like a mischaracterization, but it's quite possible I missed the relevant thread(s).
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#3The biggest change here is the name. Instead of "Apache 2 modified with Commons Clause", which risked causing confusion with Open Source software, and with Creative Commons licenses, we get the much clearer "Redis Source Available License". "Source available" is standard terminology for this type of proprietary software license, so nobody should be mislead. I approve.
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#4The biggest change here is the name. Instead of "Apache 2 modified with Commons Clause", which risked causing confusion with Open Source software, and with Creative Commons licenses, we get the much clearer "Redis Source Available License". "Source available" is standard terminology for this type of proprietary software license, so nobody should be mislead. I approve.
That helps me understand what's different this time, thank you.
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#5"The community now understands that the original concept of open source has to be fixed." Well, how lucky for the community that a wise startup came along and fixed open source.
I get that open source business models are hard, especially in an increasingly commoditized space like databases. Still, it rubs me the wrong way when a business wants the goodwill of open source, then tries its hardest to bend the rules in its favor.
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#6> “When we came out with this new license, there were many different views,” he acknowledged. “Some people condemned that. But after the initial noise calmed down — and especially after some other companies came out with a similar concept — the community now understands that the original concept of open source has to be fixed because it isn’t suitable anymore to the modern era where cloud companies use their monopoly…
I think it's fair to say that people are acknowledging the problem: it's possible for a large company to use the rights offered to them by an open source license to create products that effectively end the financial viability of smaller companies that lead core development of the project.
There's definitely not yet agreement on the solution, and Redis Labs alone is not going to solve it.
Roughly I think different people believe several things such as:
1.) The purity of open source (no restrictions on use) trump the needs of a company that does core development to profit, and so nothing should change.
2.) Its ok for companies doing core OSS development to "build a moat" that protects their revenue stream, but it shouldn't be done at the license level. Instead companies should look somewhere else like their expertise/reputation, building products on top of their open source code, etc
3.) Adjusting licenses is a reasonable way to allow interesting code to be available for use by anyone (under a not-quite pure open source license), and we are figuring out the best way to do that
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#7> “When we came out with this new license, there were many different views,” he acknowledged. “Some people condemned that. But after the initial noise calmed down — and especially after some other companies came out with a similar concept — the community now understands that the original concept of open source has to be fixed because it isn’t suitable anymore to the modern era where cloud companies use their monopoly…
I’m not exactly sure why you’re being down voted, but from my perspective, hey it’s your code use what license you want.
That’s fine.
It’s not fixing anything, it’s just more arbitrary proprietary software.
Just don’t call it open source, and keep your hands away from the Apache brand.
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#8The biggest change here is the name. Instead of "Apache 2 modified with Commons Clause", which risked causing confusion with Open Source software, and with Creative Commons licenses, we get the much clearer "Redis Source Available License". "Source available" is standard terminology for this type of proprietary software license, so nobody should be mislead. I approve.
Thanks for pointing that out. That is a clearer name for their proprietary license.
On that note, the title of the article is misleading. Redis hasn't changed its open source license. Redis remains BSD-licensed. This article is about the change in the proprietary license of certain Redis Modules.
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#9> “When we came out with this new license, there were many different views,” he acknowledged. “Some people condemned that. But after the initial noise calmed down — and especially after some other companies came out with a similar concept — the community now understands that the original concept of open source has to be fixed because it isn’t suitable anymore to the modern era where cloud companies use their monopoly…
I think it's fair to say that people are acknowledging the problem: it's possible for a large company to use the rights offered to them by an open source license to create products that effectively end the financial viability of smaller companies that lead core development of the project. There's definitely not yet agreement on the solution, and Redis Labs alone is not going to solve it. Roughly I think different peo…
I appreciate you taking the time to explain, Julian.
Re: Redis Labs Changes Its Open-Source License Again
#10> “When we came out with this new license, there were many different views,” he acknowledged. “Some people condemned that. But after the initial noise calmed down — and especially after some other companies came out with a similar concept — the community now understands that the original concept of open source has to be fixed because it isn’t suitable anymore to the modern era where cloud companies use their monopoly…
I’m not exactly sure why you’re being down voted, but from my perspective, hey it’s your code use what license you want. That’s fine. It’s not fixing anything, it’s just more arbitrary proprietary software. Just don’t call it open source, and keep your hands away from the Apache brand.
> Just don’t call it open source, and keep your hands away from the Apache brand.
Thanks! So it sounds like you're personally okay with this solution?