License ConsiderationsMIT and GPL License
A lot of Plug-ins are missing information about the licensing. This can make things complicated for corporate usage. Especially if you are wrapping a jQuery plug-in or using jQuery. jQuery is dual-licensed under the MIT License and the GNU General Public License, Version 2 (GPL)
It makes sense to pass these licenses along with your APEX Plug-in and also dual-license it with both MIT and GPL License. Even if you don't use jQuery (plugins) it is common practise to license under the MIT en GPL license.
The MIT license is short, simple, and easy to understand. It gives developers freedom to do almost anything and use the code in proprietary and non-proprietary programs. The GNU GPL license is more complicated. It gives developers freedom to do almost anything with code except use it in proprietary programs. More info:
Applying licenses
It is common to have a License and Credits section in a readme.txt file. You add the readme file to the other plug-in files. In this section you:
- name the jQuery plugin, its developer and company etc.. (if appropriate)
- name the date, your name, the licenses, and saying where to find the full text of the license
Example
CREDITS AND LICENSE
===================
This Plugin is bases on jQuery Plug-in: fast editing, by John Fast, www.fastcompany.com
Date: 12-12-2010, Dan Washington
This Plugin is dual licensed under the MIT and GPL licenses:
* http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
* http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
This article isn't by any means legal advice. It's only purpose is to make you aware of software licenses.