Software Licensing

How do I license my applications?

[pageoneresults]

I have a few applications that I want to license and resell. What steps do I need to take to make that a reality?

[Webwork]

I'd start by copyrighting the source code:

[copyright.gov...] (Search for "source code")

Place copyright notice on all copies.

Then I'd read the Microsoft licensing agreement as it might offer a well developed outline for the language of your licensing agreement.

The licensing agreement would be made a preconition step of the download process. I forget who's the big player in the business of arranging downloads for a fee.

I'd say the first two steps would be 2 big strides in a journey of a thousand downloads. :)

[lexipixel]

You say you "have them", and that you want to license and resell them.

Are you the author?

By "license and resell" do you mean you want to license them to others and let them resell them -- or that you want to resell (sell many) copies of your programs?

There are many ways that people want to buy / get / license / have / obtain software... Some people want it in a box. Some people want it once. Some people want to pay monthly and have support... Some want it for free. Some want to pay and steer the direction of development.

The way people will want to buy / license / get.. your software will better define how it should be licensed.

(I have been doing some thinking on the same subject lately --- I have sold software several times and several ways --- one thing I know is old software is worth a lot less than stuff that's fresh out of the oven)...

[lexipixel]

Since nobody, (including myself), jumped in and offered pageone a compendium of software licensing and sales information, I guess I'll rephrase his question and turn it on the buyers.

As webmasters, site owners, developers, designers...

How do you prefer to obtain software for use on your site(s)?

Do you:

___ use in-house developed code
___ use free open source code
___ use whatever your host offers
___ use 'free' easy to setup scripts & software
___ purchase on-disk / boxed software
___ use 3rd party served solutions
___ purchase downloadable software
___ no software / static website
___ other: ___________________

Rather than have people just quote list and "vote", it would be useful if you commented on why you do what you do.