Evocosm Licensing Policy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Evocosm 2.5 is 100% GPL, and if your use of it is 100% GPL compliant, then you never have to pay me for a license. In all other instances, you are better served by purchasing a commercial license. "GPL" refers to the GNU General Public License. You can find the definitive version of the GPL in the file "LICENSE.GPL". The Evocosm distribution includes the text of the GPL in the LICENSE.GPL file. Evocosm is also available under commercial non-GPL license. The LICENSE.COMMERCIAL file contains a default license; I am always open to discussing terms that fit an individual customer's needs. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - License Choices If your application is licensed under the GPL, you are free and welcome to ship GPL-licensed Evocosm software with your application. By "application" I mean any type of software application, system, tool or utility. For doing this, you do not need a separate signed agreement with me, because the GPL text is sufficient. As long as you never distribute Evocosm software (or software that forms a derivative work with Evocosm software) in any way, you are free to use it for powering your application, irrespective of the license the application is under. You are allowed to modify GPL-licensed Evocosm software any way you like. If you choose to distribute any software that forms a derivative work with GPL licensed Evocosm software then the entire derivative work must be placed under the terms and conditions of the GPL. You are allowed to copy Evocosm binaries and source code, but when you do so, the copies will fall under the GPL license. A derivative work is a work that is based in whole or in part on another work. Your national copyright law may provide additional information on when a derivative work is formed. If you are unsure of whether or not your combination of GPL licensed Evocosm software with other software forms a derivative work, then I recommend placing the derivative work under the GPL or purchasing a commercial license. If your application is not licensed under the GPL and you intend to distribute Evocosm software (be that internally or externally), you must first obtain a commercial license to the Evocosm software. So, if you include Evocosm in your non-GPL licensed application you need a commercial license for Evocosm. If you desire a warranty, support or consulting on the use of Evocosm, you need a commercial license. Many users opt for the commercial license simply because under it, I take formal responsibility for the product. Under the GPL license, there are no warranties or representations for the software. If you represent a non-profit organization or an academic institution, I recommend you to put your own application under GPL. Thereby you are free to use Evocosm software free of charge under the GPL license. If you are a private individual you are free to use Evocosm software for your personal applications, as long as you do not distribute them. Please note that even if you ship a free demo version of your own application, the above rules apply. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Recommendations To all commercial organizations I recommend the commercial license. Not only does this release you from the requirements of the GPL license, it also gives you a license letter from Evocosm where I assume responsibility for my product. The GPL license is an "as is" license with no warranties whatsoever. To all GPL/Open Source enthusiasts I recommend licensing Evocosm under the GPL license. To anyone in doubt, I recommend the commercial license. It is never wrong. I am able to sell commercial licenses at prices well under the industry average, and this is without compromising my own profitability. If you have any questions on Evocosm licensing, feel free to contact me at scott.ladd@coyotegulch.com. ..Scott