this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2024
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I think you're ignoring that most people wouldn't want their code used like that. Just because the author doesn't mind doesn't make that typical. Look at Mongo and Elastic. They felt the need to use an arguably non-free license for their code because of perceived abuses. AppGet is another example of something similar.
That's why you should read and understand a license before choosing it. MIT license is just a couple of lines of easy language, so it's not like you need a degree to understand basic English. Anybody who's surprised by the contents of the MIT license has no sympathy from me. Reading the text requires no more than one minute of time.
People generally aren't surprised by the effects of the MIT license, they're surprised by the behavior of other humans. Less permissive licenses protect against that.
Wait, people give other people the right to make proprietary variants of released source code and then are surprised when they exercise that right?
No, other licenses don't protect against not understanding which rights are granted. The GPL, for example, allows to make proprietary web services using GPL code and to never release any modifications to that code. Many people were very surprised many years ago that some web-based messenger could use Pidgin's libpurple to connect to ICQ etc. without ever giving anything back.
It's more like being angry when people try to abuse charities and get money when they don't need it. Like growing an apple tree in your yard and telling people they're free then being upset when someone comes and takes all of them. Or a better example, being angry about people taking all the candy from a Halloween bowl.
That's not what I meant, I meant protect against people taking advantage of your code in a way most people would view as wrong. (Just because something isegal doesn't mean people believe it is right.)
Also, that's why I use AGPL.