Barrer Free Software License (BFSL)

================================================================================ THE BARRERSOFTWARE LICENSE (BSL) - Version 1.0-BLF ================================================================================ Copyright (c) 2025 BarrerSoftware ================================================================================ SIMPLE TERMS (Human-Readable Summary) ================================================================================ Core Principle: "If it's free, it's free. Period." ✅ YOU CAN: • Use this software for anything • Study how it works • Modify and improve it • Share it with others • Contribute improvements back ❌ YOU CANNOT: • Sell this software or charge for it • Create paid versions or tiers • Monetize it in ANY way • Bundle it with paid products (unless this stays free) • Charge for downloads or access ⚠️ IMPORTANT: • Modified versions MUST stay free forever • Must keep this license and attribution • You CAN charge for SERVICES (support, training, consulting) • You CANNOT charge for the SOFTWARE itself That's it. Free software stays free. Forever. ================================================================================ And now, for the lawyers... (The simple terms above and formal terms below are both legally binding) ================================================================================ THE BARRERSOFTWARE LICENSE (BSL) Version 1.0 PREAMBLE This license governs software released by BarrerSoftware that is designated as FREE software. Core Principle: "If it's free, it's free. Period." Software under this license is provided to the community at zero cost and MUST remain at zero cost forever. GRANT OF RIGHTS Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to: • USE - Use the software for any purpose • STUDY - Examine how the software works • MODIFY - Make changes and improvements • DISTRIBUTE - Share copies with others • CONTRIBUTE - Submit improvements back MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS 1. NO COMMERCIALIZATION YOU MUST NOT: ❌ Sell this software or any derivative work ❌ Charge fees for access to this software ❌ Create paid tiers, editions, or versions ❌ Implement subscription or licensing models ❌ Bundle with paid products (unless this remains free) ❌ Charge for downloads, installations, or usage ❌ Monetize this software in ANY form This software MUST remain free. 2. PERPETUAL FREE STATUS Any modified or derivative version MUST: • Remain under this license (or compatible) • Stay free of charge forever • Include this license in full • Maintain attribution to BarrerSoftware 3. SERVICE EXCEPTION You MAY charge for SERVICES, not SOFTWARE: ✅ Technical support contracts ✅ Installation and setup services ✅ Training and education ✅ Custom integration work ✅ Consulting services ❌ The software itself must remain free ATTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS You MUST: • Keep copyright notices intact • Include this license with all copies • Credit BarrerSoftware in documentation • Link to original source repository You MUST NOT: • Remove or alter copyright notices • Claim you created the original software • Imply BarrerSoftware endorses your version PATENT GRANT BarrerSoftware grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free patent license to use, make, have made, import, and distribute this software. If you initiate patent litigation against BarrerSoftware or this software, this license terminates immediately. RATIONALE Why This License Exists: 1. Built on free resources - We use public specifications - We study open source code - We learn from community work - What was given freely, must remain free 2. Accessibility matters - Students can't always afford software - Developing countries need access - Hobbyists deserve good tools - Everyone should have opportunity 3. Community over commerce - We profit from 2 paid products only - Everything else is free - If we don't profit from it, no one should - Fair and ethical The Problem We're Solving: We've observed companies: • Fork free/open source software • Add minimal "enterprise features" • Charge significant fees • Profit from community work BarrerSoftware will not allow this exploitation of free software. ENFORCEMENT Violations (particularly commercialization) will result in: 1. Public disclosure - Violator name published - Violation details shared - Community warned 2. Legal action - Immediate cease and desist - Injunction to stop distribution - Recovery of all profits made - Legal fees paid by violator 3. Permanent ban - Excluded from BarrerSoftware ecosystem - No future license grants - Community blacklist Zero tolerance policy. REPORTING VIOLATIONS If you encounter a paid version of BarrerSoftware free software: Report immediately: • Email: legal at barrersoftware.com • Subject: "BSL Violation - [Software Name]" • Include: Evidence, links, pricing, screenshots We will: • Investigate within 24 hours • Take immediate action • Protect free access for all • Update community on resolution DISCLAIMER THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL BARRERSOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. COMPATIBILITY Compatible Licenses: • BarrerSoftware License (this license) • GNU GPL v3.0 (with non-commercial addendum) • Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 • Any license that prohibits commercialization Incompatible Licenses: ❌ MIT License (too permissive) ❌ Apache 2.0 (allows commercialization) ❌ BSD Licenses (allow commercialization) ❌ Any license permitting sale SPECIAL PROVISIONS BarrerSoftware Paid Products: BarrerSoftware has TWO paid products: • Velocity Panel • CleanVM Enterprise These are NOT under this license. All other BarrerSoftware software is free and under this license or compatible. Educational Use: Academic institutions MAY: • Use in courses (free) • Include in curriculum (free) • Provide to students (free) • Research and modify (free) Academic institutions MUST NOT: • Charge students for software access • Include in paid course materials only • Require purchase for participation Education must remain accessible. Government Use: Government agencies MAY: • Use for any purpose (free) • Deploy widely (free) • Modify for needs (free) Government agencies MUST NOT: • Charge other agencies for access • Sell to contractors • Create paid derivatives Public software for public good. PHILOSOPHY "If it's free, it's free. Period." What we build for the community stays with the community. No exploitation. No paywalls. No profit. Community over commerce. Access over revenue. Forever free. CONTACT BarrerSoftware • Website: https://barrersoftware.com • GitHub: https://github.com/barrersoftware • License questions: legal at barrersoftware.com • General: contact at barrersoftware.com VERSION HISTORY v1.0 (2025) - Initial release 🏴‍☠️ BarrerSoftware - Building bridges, not walls What is given freely, must remain free. ================================================================================ APPENDIX: LEGAL FORMALITIES ================================================================================ (The human-readable license above is legally binding and takes precedence) PRIMACY CLAUSE This appendix does not supersede, modify, or contradict the main license text above. In case of any conflict between this appendix and the human-readable license terms, the human-readable terms shall govern and control. FORMAL GRANT OF LICENSE WHEREAS the Licensor, BarrerSoftware (hereinafter "Licensor"), holds copyright in certain software (hereinafter "the Software"), and WHEREAS Licensor desires to grant permission for use, modification, and distribution of the Software subject to certain restrictions, and WHEREAS Licensee (any person or entity obtaining a copy of the Software) desires to use the Software under the terms herein, NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to: • Use the Software for any lawful purpose; • Study the source code and internal workings of the Software; • Modify, adapt, or create derivative works based upon the Software; • Distribute copies of the Software or derivative works; • Contribute modifications back to the original project. RESTRICTION ON COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION Notwithstanding the grant of license above, Licensee shall NOT: • Sell, offer for sale, or otherwise commercially distribute the Software or any derivative work thereof; • Charge any fee, subscription, or other monetary consideration for access to, use of, or distribution of the Software; • Create or market paid editions, tiers, or versions of the Software; • Bundle the Software with paid products or services unless the Software component remains freely accessible; • Monetize the Software through any means including but not limited to advertising, data collection, or indirect revenue generation. CLARIFICATION ON SERVICES Licensee may charge for services related to the Software (including but not limited to technical support, installation, training, integration, and consulting) provided that the Software itself remains free of charge and the service fees are clearly for labor and expertise, not for software licensing. ATTRIBUTION AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE Licensee shall: • Retain all copyright notices, license text, and attribution in all copies and derivative works; • Credit BarrerSoftware as the original author in all documentation and derivative works; • Include a hyperlink or reference to the original source repository; • Not misrepresent the origin of the Software or claim authorship of code written by Licensor. PATENT GRANT AND DEFENSIVE TERMINATION Subject to the terms herein, Licensor grants Licensee a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free patent license to make, have made, use, offer to sell, import, and otherwise transfer the Software, where such license applies only to those patent claims licensable by Licensor that are necessarily infringed by their contribution(s) alone or by combination of their contribution(s) with the Software. If Licensee institutes patent litigation against any entity (including a cross-claim or counterclaim in a lawsuit) alleging that the Software or a contribution incorporated within the Software constitutes direct or contributory patent infringement, then any patent licenses granted to Licensee under this License for that Software shall terminate as of the date such litigation is filed. PERPETUAL FREE STATUS AND COPYLEFT Any modified version or derivative work of the Software MUST: • Remain licensed under this License or a compatible license that prohibits commercialization; • Remain free of charge in perpetuity; • Include the full text of this License; • Maintain attribution to BarrerSoftware. For purposes of this License, "compatible license" means any license that includes substantially similar restrictions on commercial exploitation and requirements for perpetual free availability. WARRANTY DISCLAIMER THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR ANY OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SEVERABILITY If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable and valid, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION This License shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which BarrerSoftware operates, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under or related to this License shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in that jurisdiction. ENTIRE AGREEMENT This License, including the human-readable terms above and this formal appendix, constitutes the entire agreement between Licensor and Licensee with respect to the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. ================================================================================ END OF LICENSE ================================================================================ Note: This license uses Barrer License Format (BLF) - a presentation standard that puts human-readable terms first, followed by formal legal language. Both sections are equally legally binding. Learn more at: barrersoftware.com/blf.html