Licensing

The basic idea behind ]project-open[ is to create an open-source ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. So why don't we release all of our code under an open-source license such as the GPL ?

It's a difficult one. We are believers in open-source who are convinced that open-source economics will, on the long term change and finally dominate the entire software industry. However, there is a certain misfit between the open-source concept and ERP software, because ERPs are considered by most open-source developers to be very boring; resulting that few of them are willing to spend their free time developing them. We have tried a lot of different options in the past in order to tackle this issue and to make open-source ERPs work. However, due to the lackluster success of the completely "open-source" method, some auxiliary parts of ]project-open[ are licensed commercially in order to generate revenue for ourselves.

Mixed Source Model

So we have come up with a "mixed source" model for ]project-open[ that is based on the difference between "commodity" and "value added" or "strategic" functionality:

  • "Commodity modules":
    Commodity modules are open-source and maintained by the community in a shared effort (GPL  and our Free License). Open-source economics allow to greatly reduce the development effort for these modules.
  • "Added Value" or "Strategic Modules:
    Added value modules are closed-source software written by companies specialized in a specific sector. These modules allow companies to differentiate themselves from the competition. These modules are released as plain commercial software using our Commercial License.

Here is a comparison between the three licenses:

GNU Public License "Free
License"
"Commercial License"
License terms (links) GPL License Free License Commercial License
License objective "Software wants
to be free"
"Share costs
of development"
"Profit"
Free for end users? yes yes no

Our hope is that these conditions are interesting for small and medium companies and that it will finally lead to an [Open Source Market Place]. Using this combined licensing we hope to achieve:

  • A sprawling open-source software project,
  • Maximum value and freedom for customer,
  • Coherence in the development process,
  • An interesting marketplace for distributors and resellers and
  • The prosperity of 3rd party IT consultants .

For questions and suggestions please contact. We are aware that licenses are a critical issue in the Open-Source community and we are eager to learn about your opinion.

GPL - The Gnu Public License

GPL  software is free for everybody to use, modify and redistribute.
If redistributed, the software needs to be published under the terms of the GPL again. This is the "classical" open-source license that ensures that an open-source program will always stay open-source.

FL - ]project-open[ "Free License"

Software under the Free License is free for everybody to use and modify. It is "normal" commercial software, but the license fee is €0.00.

However, the redistribution of any software that has been downloaded/modified is restricted in order to avoid the "free loader problem" (companies taking advantage of the efforts of others). Basically, you have to become a "[partner]" and share the development costs in order to receive the rights of redistribution for any software downloaded/modified with the Free License.

CL - ]project-open[ "Commercial License"

All software released under the Commercial License is "normal" software in the sense that the user has to pay for the software in order to use it.

However, the customer receives the source-code of the modules together with the right to modify the software. Therefore the end-user will possess all source code and the right to further modify and extend that source code. But the rights of redistribution remain the same as with the free license, one must first become a "[partner]" before becoming able to further redistribute the software.

Licensing of ]project-open[ Packages

]project-open[ consists of the OpenACS base platform plus several "]project-open[ packages". In order to install ]project-open[ you first need to install OpenACS and then add the ]project-open[ packages. The Windows Installer includes all of these components in one single binary. On Linux, OS X, Solaris and other Unix variants you will have to follow the OpenACS installation guide and then add the ]po[ packages manually.

All ]po[ packages are delivered in ".apm" format (OpenACS Package Manager), suitable for automatic web-installation from the OpenACS. You can rename them to ".tgz" or ".tar.gz" in order to open them and see the source code.

Below please find an overview over the ]project-open[ core product packages. All of these packages are available free under the GPL. Please Contact Us if you have questions or suggestions.

Explication:

  • Package: Name of the package
  • ]po[ or OpenACS: If the package is a pre-existing package which is part of the OpenACS platform or has been developed specifically for ]proejct-open[
  • License Type: GPL (free), FL (free/limited redistribution) or CL($/not free/limited redistribution)
  • Maturity:
    • prod = Ready for production use
    • int = Internal use at ]project-open[
      (for advanced users only who know what they are doing)
    • exp = Experimental
      (not suitable at all for normal users)
    • - = Doesn't exist yet

GPL Packages

Package Name ]po[ / OpenACS License Type Comment/ Maturity
acs-admin OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-api-browser OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-authentication OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-automated-testing OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-bootstrap-installer OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-content-repository OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-core-docs OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[acs-datetime] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-developer-support OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-events OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-kernel OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-lang OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-mail-lite OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-mail OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-messaging OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-reference OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-service-contract OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-subsite OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-tcl OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-templating OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-translations OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
acs-workflow OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
ajaxhelper OpenACS Various licenses (Yahoo, Xinha, ...)
[ams] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version Obsolete, not used in ]po[. ]po['s intranet-dynfield is based on a fork of ams.
auth-ldap-adldapsearch OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[auth-ldap] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
bug-tracker OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[bulk-mail] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
calendar OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
categories OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
chat OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[cms] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[contacts] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
diagram OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
ecommerce OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
events OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[faq] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ general-comments] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[intranet-core] ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
intranet-dynfield ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version

intranet-riskmanagement

]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version Obsolete
intranet-mail-import ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
intranet-hr ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
intranet-payments ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
intranet-tinytm ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ intranet-spam] ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version Obsolete
[ lars-blogger] ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
mail-tracking ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
notifications ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
[oryx-ts-extensions] ]po[ GPL V2.0 or any later version
[postal-address] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ref-countries] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ref-language] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ref-timezones] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ref-us-counties] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ ref-us-states] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[ref-us-zipcodes] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
rss-support OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
search OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
simple-survey OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[telecom-number] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[trackback] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
[wiki] OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version ]po[ V3.4 version of Wiki, replaced in V4.0 by xowiki
workflow OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version
xml-rpc OpenACS GPL V2.0 or any later version

Free License Packages

Package Name ]po[/ OpenACS License Type Maturity/ Comment
[intranet-amberjack] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL) obsolete
intranet-big-brother ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL) limited usefullness
intranet-bug-tracker ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-calendar-holidays] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL) obsolete
intranet-calendar ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-confdb ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-crm-tracking] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-cust-baselkb] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-cost ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[ intranet-cust-cambridge] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-cust-issa] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-cust-lexcelera] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-cust-projop] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-cust-reinisch] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-cvs-integration ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-dw-light ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-exchange-rate ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-expenses-workflow ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-expenses ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-filestorage ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-forum ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-ganttproject ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-helpdesk ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-invoices-templates] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-invoices ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-material ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-milestone ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-nagios ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-notes ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-pdf-htmldoc] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL) deprecated, replaced by Open office integration
intranet-reporting ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-reporting-tutorial ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-search-pg-files ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-search-pg ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-security-update-client] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-security-update-server] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)

intranet-simple-survey

]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-sql-selectors] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL) obsolete, replaced by intranet-contacts
intranet-sysconfig ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-timesheet2-invoices ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-timesheet2-task-popup] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-timesheet2-tasks ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-timesheet2-workflow ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-timesheet2 ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-trans-invoices ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-trans-project-wizard ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-translation ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-update-client ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
[intranet-update-server] ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-wiki ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-workflow ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)
intranet-xmlrpc ]po[ ]project-open[ Free License (FL)

Commercial License Packages

Package Name ]po[ / OpenACS License Type Maturity/ Comment
batch-importer ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-audit ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-cost-center ]po[ project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-freelance-invoices ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-freelance-rfqs ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-freelance-translation ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-freelance ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
[intranet-ophelia] ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL) obsolete/ not maintained anymore
intranet-otp ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
[intranet-release-mgmt] ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-reporting-cubes ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-reporting-dashboard ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-reporting-finance ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-reporting-indicators ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-reporting-translation ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-trans-quality ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
intranet-ubl ]po[ ]project-open[ Commercial License (CL)
  Contact Us
  Project Open Business Solutions S.L.

Calle Aprestadora 19, 12o-2a

08902 Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona)

Spain

 Tel Europe: +34 609 953 751
 Tel US: +1 415 200 2465
 Mail: info@project-open.com