help on choosing a license

[Freeman0119]

I'm planing to release one of my programs to a community, and I need to choose a license that best suits my purpose. After a lot of reading on wikipedia and google I got totally lost...

what I want to do with my program:
1. the program is free of charge in the binary form, but I don't want to release source code
2. the use of the program may be potentially illegal (just like a lot of other software), and I want to stay away from any legal affair that may come from improper use of my program
3. users can redistribute the program at their will, but I want to be credited whenever the program is redistributed

please help me find a suitable license... thanks!

[Freeman0119]

Any suggestions? I'm considering GNU public license, but I haven't seen a closed source freeware under that license. Can I just use GPL for a closed source program? or there's better choices?

[laserlight]

I'm considering GNU public license, but I haven't seen a closed source freeware under that license. Can I just use GPL for a closed source program?
It would not make sense to use any version of the GPL for closed source software since the aim of the GPL is to force the software to remain Free/Open Source.

One option is to use a suitable permissive open source license and simply not release the source. For example, you might be able to use the Apache License, Version 2.0 (http://www.opensource.org/licenses/apache2.0.php).

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer; this is not legal advice.

[PeejAvery]

Have you thought about writing your own EULA? Even if you do adopt a license, how do you plan to track people who don't abide by it? How will you enforce it if they do break it? Basically, just don't give out your source code.

Out of curiosity, what exactly are you releasing that could be used for illegal activity?

[Freeman0119]

It would not make sense to use any version of the GPL for closed source software since the aim of the GPL is to force the software to remain Free/Open Source.

One option is to use a suitable permissive open source license and simply not release the source. For example, you might be able to use the Apache License, Version 2.0 (http://www.opensource.org/licenses/apache2.0.php).

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer; this is not legal advice.

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at the Apache liscense... too hard language for me... anyway it seems the right one, if it is ok to use for a closed source program. I just didn't see terms saying you have to credit the original contributor when you redistribute the work... maybe I missed it right in front of my eyes...

[Freeman0119]

Have you thought about writing your own EULA? Even if you do adopt a license, how do you plan to track people who don't abide by it? How will you enforce it if they do break it? Basically, just don't give out your source code.

Out of curiosity, what exactly are you releasing that could be used for illegal activity?

Thanks. But i really don't know much about licensing... What's commonly done to track people's compliance and to enforce it? I've no idea. If you have more experience please explain to me.

the program is actually designed to have the potential to be illegal -- it's a robot that plays a flash game automatically at an accuracy and speed higher than any human. it's supposed to help one to have fun with the game by giving him a hint when he's stuck. But if the user is not ethical enough, he can easily use the program to obtain more points and higher ranking than he deserves on the game's website (and maybe even win money illegally in future). That is, the program can be either legal or illegal, all depending on the user.

so, do you think the distribution of such a potentially illegal program is itself illegal? if not, can I use a license to make sure I don't get sued for other people using the program illegally?

[PeejAvery]

Thanks. But i really don't know much about licensing... What's commonly done to track people's compliance and to enforce it? I've no idea. If you have more experience please explain to me.
The only way to completely enforce it is to use a licensing server. However, that would mean in order for someone to use it, they would have to register it first. Seeing as how this is for Flash media, I highly doubt the problem of an internet connection.

so, do you think the distribution of such a potentially illegal program is itself illegal? if not, can I use a license to make sure I don't get sued for other people using the program illegally?
No. That would be absurd. Guns can be used for illegal activity. But buy and selling a gun, given the proper venue, is far from illegal.

[Freeman0119]

thanks for making this clear for me.