Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an open-source license?
No. It is not OSI-approved because it restricts commercial use by third parties, which violates the Open Source Definition. This is intentional.
Can the copyright holder use the software commercially?
Yes. The copyright holder expressly reserves full commercial rights. They can sell, license, or integrate it into commercial products without restriction.
Can I (a third party) use software under WD-NCL in my company?
Only for non-commercial purposes. Internal use in production that contributes to revenue or operations is prohibited. Evaluation, testing, and development are permitted.
Can I sell software using WD-NCL?
No, not unless you are the copyright holder. Third parties cannot sell or commercially exploit the software without explicit written permission.
Can I modify the software and distribute my modifications?
Yes, as long as your modifications are also used and distributed non-commercially and you retain attribution to the original copyright holder.
What happens if I violate the license?
The license terminates automatically, and you must cease all use, distribution, and modification of the Software and destroy all copies in your possession.
Who owns contributions?
Contributors retain ownership of their contributions but grant the copyright holder a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use, modify, and distribute them as part of the Software under this license.
Can I use WD-NCL for my own projects?
Yes. The license is provided as a template for anyone to use. Just replace the placeholders ([Year], [Copyright Holder Name], [Your Jurisdiction]) with your own details.
How do I give credit to whitedragon-dev?
You can include a note in your README or documentation: "This project uses the whitedragon-dev Non-Commercial License (WD-NCL) v1.0." A link to the license documentation is appreciated.
Who can I contact for commercial licensing?
Contact the copyright holder directly (the name you filled in the license). If you are using a project under WD-NCL and need commercial rights, reach out to the project owner.