License question for blitzmax modules

I am working on a demo for a module that I have made for BlitzMax. But I am uncertain of what kind of license I should use for it. It will be a module that people whould have to pay for to use, and the source code will not be providede, only the module files.

What would you recommend ?

I don't know of a specific license as such, but asserting your copyright should be enough, surely?

Just put in your docs "Copyright ©2005 Johnny Bremer, All Rights Reserved". Change 2005 to 2006 if you publicly release it next year because copyright can be asserted from the year of release, not creation.

If you want to make a specific point about the usage of your module, then just mention it in the docs. e.g, if you do not want your software to be used to develop missile systems, just say "usage of this software to aid (consequentially or otherise) the development of weapons or weapon systems is prohibited".

Provide a few options:

1) One Time Fee
2) Usage Fee - per game (shareware)
3) Usage Fee - per game (Commercial)

Is this a module that people would find useful in commercial projects? will you get repeat business from individuals?

You might also want to consider selling the source code, at least then people can make thier own modifications and help you improve the product.

A commercial license?

Its a module that is best compaired to the SpriteCandy library that is available for B3D. A sprite library that makes it easy to do 2D games and which have a lot of automated effects and control functions. It works with openGL context only though, no directX yet, but I might look into making another version for that later on.

I am not sure how I would keep tracks of usage fee per game, so I think that I rather just have a one time fee and then it can be used as much as you like.

I guess that it would be enough to have a license text file in which it says that its copyrighted to me, and that it cannot be resold. That its a one time fee to use it in as many commercial/shareware works you want and that free updates will be available until next major version change (ie. going from version 1.x to 2.x).

Wouldn't that be alright you think?

Yeah one off fee for that sounds good. What about upgrades and support?

I have setup a forum on my website where people can ask support questions. There they can also help each other with how to use the module, and they can post suggestions for changes, improvements and additions to the module.

Unless I make a major change in how it works or adds something radically new, then I am going to let people get free updates.

I am working on a showcase demo and a webpage for it at the moment. People interested can view the current function list here: http://zac-interactive.dk/tools/zsprite/commands.html

Once the demo is done, I will start working on small code examples which will be available for download at my site shortly after the release of the module.

*chuckle* that's a seriously 'minimal' docs you've got there, zawan. :) ...or haven't you written the full docs yet?

I hate writing docs! Just finished the ones for my soon-to-be-released library and, god, was that boring. It's also hard to write them from the point of view of someone who knows nothing about your lib.

I am not done with the docs yet, and yeah I don't really like writing docs either. When you have been working on something for a while, the functions just seems logical and straight forward, but as you say, it have to be written so that someone with no knowledge of the inner workings would easily figure out how it works when reading it.

What kind of library have you been working on?

Mine are for the user functions that come with a bitmap font creation utility I've been working on (for what seems like forever). I haven't been working on it flat-out, though. Anyway, the app's been finished for a while, now - just dragging my feet writing the docs/manual/userlib/demo/website. Lot of work considering I'm probably going to have to make it freeware as I can't see me selling too many, if I charge for it. :/

No its not that easy to sell something like that. Don't know if its anything like one I did a while ago, which I have sold 7 of total since I made it. You'll find it in the tools section of my website, if you want to check it out.

Yeah, zawan, I remember checking your font tool out some time ago. Nice. Only sold 7, huh? Bit disappointing, I guess, as it's pretty cheap.

Yours is a bit different to mine as yours lets you draw your own fonts and mine just bases them off installed TrueType fonts. I'm too lazy to draw my own. :P
Mine lets you add various outline and shadow styles etc. - the usual stuff - and also lets you set the kerning for individual characters.

I didn't set out to do a full-blown app. Just wanted to knock-up something quick and dirty for my own use but got carried away... as usual. :)