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Differences between licenses - I also made a rhyme!

by Pulsing
9 replies
Hi to all of you warriors,

it's quite some time I wonder about single site, multi site and developer licenses for plugins - for example.

The question is: when the programmer and the marketer set the single site license, the same plugin won't install on more than one site - meaning that the code itself autoblocks the subsequent installations? Or is it something based on the trust between the creator and the customer?

And the developer license means that the customer can open the code and change it as he prefers?

Thanks for help in advance,
#differences #licenses #made #rhyme
  • Profile picture of the author TheCopyGirl
    I believe you often go by trust, but it is possible to write code that blocks multi-site install on a single site license.

    If your software is completely closed/proprietary, you can obfuscate the code to prevent people from opening it up, even on a dev license - a developers license doesn't necessarily default to giving away rights to modify the code. Of course, it may do that, but it depends on the situation.

    If we are talking about wordpress plugins, though, they are usually licensed under the GPL, meaning that you get your hands on the code even on the most basic license, and not only that, you even get the rights to pass it on This is one of the most heated debates on the interwebs in recent times (should WP plugins be "forced" under the GPL license, just because they are extending the functionality of GPL software?).

    Of course, you can still obfuscate wordpress plugin code, especially the part that protects the single-site usage. And then again, there will be the "smart" buyers who'll know how to work around it one way or the other. Sighs!

    Hope this helps
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  • Profile picture of the author Pulsing
    My goodness!

    Thanks CopyGirl for the precious informations, I'm more demoralized than ever!

    Anyhow, by reading your lines, I seem to understand that WP plugin various licenses are more a marketing strategy than an effective product difference, am I wrong?
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  • Profile picture of the author VegasGreg
    Single license = right to use on one site
    Multi-Site = Use it on as many sites as YOU own (or as many times offered in the license)
    Developers License = Use it on sites YOU own and sites you develop(sell) for your clients/customers.

    Of course, there can always be variations to that, so read each license to determine the exact details of each.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnnyN
    I had the same question for a guy that made a WSO about creating wordpress plugins. He told me that he does not usually bother with protecting the code, and only uses the TRUST method.
    i.e. he has 3 different prices for the same product, the only difference would be the price and the license documentation included in the product (but my guess is he does not even change the documentation).
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    • Profile picture of the author Pulsing
      Originally Posted by johnnyN View Post

      I had the same question for a guy that made a WSO about creating wordpress plugins. He told me that he does not usually bother with protecting the code, and only uses the TRUST method.
      i.e. he has 3 different prices for the same product, the only difference would be the price and the license documentation included in the product (but my guess is he does not even change the documentation).
      Hi Johnny and thank you!

      Your post too is quite sadly clear.. however, from a friend of mine whom I asked for advices, I knew that you can embed into the single-site plugin a notification code that reports back to the creator multiple installations.

      However, as Copygirl has said, I'm afraid this line can be edited or deleted into the plugin, always because the GPL license must be open. Am I wrong?
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Tyler
    Most developers go for trust, and I've done that myself, because I know how complex and time-consuming it's to write a whole new module for the license/protection part.

    If you have the time and energy in place you should actually write a module that connects to your database and check's if the website that the script is installed on has the permission to run that license. Then for the last finish, encode the main php file with a phpEncoer and you'r ready to laugh away nullers and thieves!

    Tired of thieves and nulled's,
    Mike Tyler.
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    • Profile picture of the author Pulsing
      Originally Posted by Mike Tyler View Post

      Most developers go for trust, and I've done that myself, because I know how complex and time-consuming it's to write a whole new module for the license/protection part.

      If you have the time and energy in place you should actually write a module that connects to your database and check's if the website that the script is installed on has the permission to run that license. CopyGirl and you said that the protection line can be edited away (aka nulled), just encode the php file with some phpBlocker, and problem fixed

      Tired of thieves and nulled's,
      Mike Tyler.
      Hey Mike,

      thanks for your precious sharing!
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  • Profile picture of the author mindinventory
    Thanks for the sharing.
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  • Profile picture of the author ussher
    Your product, you get to decide what your license name means. I've seen it a couple of ways.

    One where the 'Developer License' is everything un-encoded with the rights to re-sell the product but the price for the license is the most expensive one of the licenses to buy al-la wprobot:
    WP Robot - Premium Wordpress Autoposting Plugin

    And the opposite of that where the 'Developer License' is the cheapest one that gives you "No technical support will be given for ANY reason. No updates, no upgrades, and no bug fixes are provided with this license." al-la makecontest:
    make contest

    With the interesting side note on the last one to "Please consider submitting bug reports."
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