Similar past (unsuccessful) discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13250450
By the way, I do not wish to turn this question into a political flame war. I also don’t think it’s unprecedented: some of the more popular licenses in use today are specifically intended as political wedges (GPL). And see also the JSON “use for good, not for evil” license.
On a more personal note, I’d like to use a similar license that prohibits military or military-adjacent use.
Wouldn't this party also control the courts? How would you enforce such a license, in an environment like that?
Perhaps litigation can come many years down the line, if and when the political winds change.
Frankly, it's a snipe chase trying to snare someone with discriminatory software licenses no matter who is in charge. Even the GPL doesn't totally succeed at deterring freeloaders, any sort of source-available license will inherently let your perceived boogeyman-of-choice win.
I'm willing to swallow the opportunity cost of "bad guys" using my software because the good outweighs it. I'm filling a need that might otherwise be occupied by a libertarian nutjob, fascist revolutionary or neocon bootlicker. And I sit there merging PRs with a smile because that's the image I want the world to remember my contributions by.
You can tweak a existing license to fit your goals. The issue is if it is not widely adopted then it will be a largely uphill battle to enforce said license, and the longer a legal fight the costlier it becomes.
To answer your question: certain software prohibits use for "military technology" which is one of the vaguest term iv seen. You also have license's that prohibit use in a commercial setting etc.
As for a license that prohibits certain users, that's more complex. The WordPress drama which had a button added blocking a specific group did happen, but a judge blocked that action. You probably need any "click to confirm you are not X or don't support Y at the very beginning of the release and not as an add in later down the road.
The easiest method for blocking certain groups of people would be a web developer banning any country IP that supports GDPR, and includes in the terms of service that you will not use the software if you fall into XYZ category.
codingdave•6mo ago
Enforcing it would be a challenge.
tastyface•6mo ago
codingdave•6mo ago
The precedent you are seeking would help arguments in that last step, but that isn't part that makes enforcement a challenge.
tastyface•6mo ago