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Gumroad’s source is available

github.com

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Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#31

Post by runningmike »

clcaev wrote: post #24

Could we please change the title to say : "Gumroad is source available"? This license is clearly fails OSD and is not open source by the industry standard; perpetuating a false statement is unhelpful. https://opensource.org/osd

So true. A very misleading title. This license is far away of any approved OSI or FSF Foss license. Gumroad is a great service, the value is imho not in the software. But in the execution of it’s mission and the very simple way to lower the bar to sell digital goods without upfront costs.

Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#32

Post by TylerLives »

I haven't followed Gumroad much, but I remember them being very pro freedom and having some interesting hiring practices. IIRC they were all being paid equally (based on position and hours of work) and had no meetings. Now I see a Code of Conduct.

Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#33

Post by eemil »

Timshel wrote: post #18
handfuloflight wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if it someone uses this software to build a $10M GMV per annum business, it's completely unclear the pounds of flesh Gumroad et. al will want as their cut.

Yes but before you reach this point you probably have a bit of time to start discussing with them ?

By the time licensing becomes relevant, your business is built around the platform and this gives Gumroad an unreasonable advantage in any negotiations. Imagine what they could say:

- You're now a competitor. Stop using our software (you can still sell on gumroad.com, hint hint)

- Give us 20% for 1 year (next year, who knows...)

- We won't give you a license, but we'll buy you out for next to nothing.

Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#34

Post by snvzz »

RobotToaster wrote: post #14
fbn79 wrote: post #8

License is very limiting for Business

Yeah, it's not open source, the licence violates point five of the OSD https://opensource.org/osd

It's also not Free Software, as it also violates the Free Software definition[0].

0. https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html

Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#35

Post by rustc »

Timshel wrote: post #18
handfuloflight wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if it someone uses this software to build a $10M GMV per annum business, it's completely unclear the pounds of flesh Gumroad et. al will want as their cut.

Yes but before you reach this point you probably have a bit of time to start discussing with them ?

And at that point they can ask for anything because the alternative would be rewriting all your code.

Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#36

Post by notpushkin »

ecedeno wrote: post #30
notpushkin wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think they actually call it open source themselves – rather, the HN poster made a (probably benign) mistake.

The founder does. See: https://x.com/shl/status/1908090697984426227

Yikes :-(

Re: Gumroad’s source is available

#39

Post by WhyNotHugo »

clcaev wrote: post #24

Could we please change the title to say : "Gumroad is source available"? This license is clearly fails OSD and is not open source by the industry standard; perpetuating a false statement is unhelpful. https://opensource.org/osd

The license is actually pretty restrictive: you can only use this if you own a small company or work for government / non-profit.

Most average human's (including myself) can't use the source code in any way:

> You may use the software under this license only if (1) your company has less than 1 million USD (2024) total revenue in the prior tax year, and less than 10 million USD (2024) GMV (Gross Merchandise Value), or (2) you are a non-profit organization or government entity.

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