Jannis Braun
f481e1fe9e
- LICENSE -> verbatim GNU AGPL-3.0; add LICENSE-COMMERCIAL.md + SECURITY.md - CLA -> exclusive-license grant (contributors keep copyright); add README anti-rugpull covenant + relicense record - NOTICE / README / CONTRIBUTING / CLAUDE.md / package.json x5 updated; contact routed through GitHub (no email placeholders) - AGPL section 13 source offer: operator-configurable BACKSPACE_SOURCE_URL + build-injected commit; sourceCodeUrl+commit on /api/instance/info; SourceCodeLink on login/register/settings/desktop; docs + .env.example updated
59 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
59 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
# Backspace — Commercial License
|
|
|
|
Backspace is **dual-licensed**:
|
|
|
|
1. **Open source** — the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (`AGPL-3.0-only`),
|
|
in the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file. Free for everyone.
|
|
2. **Commercial** — described here, for uses the AGPL does not permit.
|
|
|
|
## When you need a commercial license
|
|
|
|
The AGPL-3.0 is a strong copyleft license. You likely need a commercial license
|
|
if you want to:
|
|
|
|
- embed or distribute Backspace (in whole or in part) inside a **closed-source or
|
|
proprietary** application;
|
|
- offer Backspace to third parties as a **hosted or managed service without
|
|
releasing the complete corresponding source** of your modified version to your
|
|
users (which AGPL § 13 would otherwise require);
|
|
- use Backspace in an **organization that prohibits AGPL** software; or
|
|
- obtain **warranty, indemnity, or support** terms that the AGPL disclaims.
|
|
|
|
If you self-host Backspace and are willing to comply with the AGPL — including
|
|
publishing the source of any modifications you run as a network service — you do
|
|
**not** need a commercial license. The open-source license already covers you.
|
|
|
|
## What the commercial license grants
|
|
|
|
Relief from the AGPL's copyleft obligations for your specific use, under
|
|
negotiated terms (scope, duration, support, and price depend on your use case).
|
|
The maintainer can grant this because the licensing rights in the codebase are
|
|
consolidated via the [Contributor License Agreement](CLA.md).
|
|
|
|
## Third-party components
|
|
|
|
A commercial license covers only Backspace's **own** code. Bundled third-party
|
|
components (see [NOTICE](NOTICE)) — including **libvips** (LGPL-3.0-or-later, via
|
|
`sharp`) and the npm dependency tree — remain under their own licenses, and their
|
|
obligations pass through to you. The maintainer cannot and does not license away
|
|
third-party rights he does not own.
|
|
|
|
## How to obtain one
|
|
|
|
Commercial licensing is available **on request**. A dedicated licensing contact
|
|
will be added as the project grows; until then, reach the maintainer via GitHub —
|
|
open a discussion or issue on the repository, or contact
|
|
[@TheZwiss](https://github.com/TheZwiss) — with a short description of your
|
|
intended use. Terms are agreed in a separate, signed commercial agreement.
|
|
|
|
> This document is provided for information only, without warranty. It is **not**
|
|
> an offer that forms a contract, and it does not modify the AGPL. The binding
|
|
> terms of any commercial license are set out solely in a separate signed
|
|
> agreement.
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2026 Jannis Braun. "Backspace", the Backspace logo, and app icons are
|
|
trademarks of Jannis Braun; no trademark rights are granted by either the AGPL or
|
|
the commercial license.
|