Aura's Den

Clumsy Wolf Public License

The Clumsy Wolf Public License is a CNPL/Hippocratic License-style software license written for the Fenix Project. It's a GPL-lite license with restrictions on negative usage. It was written to cover the gaps (as I saw them) in something like the CNPL.

The license itself is fairly standard for a FOSS license, simplified down to a four-clause affair, plus a clause for usage restrictions and a clause that basically serves as an asterisk for the warranty and liability clauses. I'll be honest, I'm not a lawyer, and this license has not been vetted by one. Ultimately, the asterisk in clause six is probably the weakest point of it, but that's an issue to be resolved in version 6.

Oh, yeah. Version 5. This is version 5. What were the first four, you ask? Well, v1 was basically just the GPL. v2 was a simplified version of the first, but otherwise the same content wise. v3 was basically just 0-clause BSD. And, v4 was less a license and more a ramble about how IP is bullshit and yeah, sure, you can use it if you're a Nazi, but would you really want to use some autistic trans woman's code instead of something generated by your master race?

Version 5 was inspired by wanting an actual license for the FENIX project. Yeah, sure, IP is bullshit and all, but ultimately, it's unlikely anyone would try to use FENIX for the purposes listed in the license, and having an actual license gives a little more confidence in actually using it instead of leaving you to wonder what the usage conditions truly are. Well, here you go. Basic GPL-esque restrictions on how you use it, but including a massive list of things I don't like to make me feel better at the end of the day.

I guess I probably shouldn't say this, but I will admit that my license is probably unenforceable, not for actually being legally unenforceable, but because I couldn't ever bring anyone to court over it in the first place. So, uh, yeah. Still, you probably shouldn't be using FENIX for your nuclear plant. Not. Production. Ready.

Something else I probably need to address in v6 is virality. Like, if you're distributing my software or modified versions thereof, I want you to follow the license, but if you just want to borrow some my code, I don't want you to have to fuck around with how to license that chunk. Unfortunately, since this is basically GPL-lite, I think that may be an issue. (I mean, I already said I can't enforce it, but still. Principle.) For now, until I release a new version, just know that if you're just using a chunk of my code as part of a larger project, you just need to attribute it. Don't worry about GPL-style licensing disasters. (BTW, have I ever mentioned I hate the GPL?)

Anyhoo, here's the license, plus some text files for download. You probably want the default version, v5. If you plan to offer a warranty, I've provided v5w. If you plan to assume liability, there's v5l. And, finally, if you're gonna do both, you'll want v5lw.

Clumsy Wolf Public License version 5

  1. You are free to use this package as you wish, except as detailed by clause 3. This freedom includes the freedom to study the source code and change it as you please. To allow you to do so, the source code will be provided to the best of the primary author's ability. If you make any changes, you are under no obligation to notify anyone or share those changes with the original authors of this package.
  2. You are free to give unmodified copies of this package to anyone you wish, so long as you keep a copy of this license in with it. You are also free to give modified copies of this package to anyone you wish, so long as that package includes a notice stating that the package includes modifications not approved or endorsed by the original authors and the package is released under either this license, including future versions of this license, or any license with similar restrictions, such as the Hippocratic License or the Cooperative Nonviolent Public License.
  3. If you make and submit any changes to this package, you agree to not pursue any patent claims relating to patents you may hold over any changes you have made.
  4. This package is not to be used by any individual or organization in a way that promotes, lobbies for, derives income from, or otherwise supports:
    • sex trafficking or human trafficking
    • slavery or indentured servitude
    • any form of child labour
    • gambling, tobacco, or other adversely addictive behaviours
    • warfare or weapons manufacturing, including nuclear processes that may contribute to the production of nuclear weapons, regardless of primary usage of said process
    • environmental destruction, including but not limited to deforestation, pollution of air or waterways, production of fossil fuels (including but not limited to coal—including so-called "clean coal"—oil, or natural gas), or disposal of waste in a way that adversely affects the environment at large
    • hate speech or discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, race, sexuality, religion, nationality, and/or ethnicity
    • fascism, contemporary American conservatism, or any other form of authoritariansim, including whatever it is the People's Republic of China is doing
    • authoritarian religious movements, including but not limited to Christian dominionism and Christian Reconstruction, Islamic extremism, Hindutva, or any other attempt at theocracy
    • surveillance at any level, whether individual or large-scale
    • incarceration of any sentient being
    Additionally, commercial use of this package is only permitted by individuals or worker-owned coöperatives.
  5. THIS PACKAGE COMES WITH NO WARRANTY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING. THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THIS PACKAGE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS PACKAGE IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THIS PACKAGE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION
  6. IN NO EVENT, UNLESS REQUIRED BY LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING, WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY WHO MODIFIES/DISTRIBUTES THIS PACKAGE AS PERMITTED ABOVE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGE, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTIES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
  7. If you are distributing any version of this package, you are permitted to replace this license with CWPL v5l, v5w, or v5lw which removes the disclaimers in clauses 4 and/or 5, under the strict condition that you include in the package a notice that it is you who is offering the warranty and/or assumption of liability and not the original developers of this package.

This license is licensed under CC-BY 4.0 by Aura Vulpes.