Yellowball - don't just host your podcast. own it.

1 min read Original article ↗

Short answer: No, not at this time.

Longer answer: I'm taking a similar approach to the founder of Start9 , Matt Hill. In this podcast episode, he discussed how licensing can be a strategic tool. When Start9 began, it was closed source. Although their goal was to eventually have the freest licensing possible (which they now have), they initially used restrictive software licensing to nurture their product into something sustainable. He explained that licensing is not a principled or religious obligation but rather a tool like wires, components, and money to help StartOS survive.

Their strategy was to gradually open up the software. They started with closed source, moved to source-available for personal use only, then allowed non-commercial use, and finally adopted the MIT license, which imposes no restrictions on usage. This phased approach allowed them to protect their product initially while ensuring it could thrive and eventually be set free. Once the restrictive licensing no longer served a positive purpose and instead had negative consequences, they removed it.

Their goal was to achieve business success and create something lasting. This strategic use of licensing enabled them to build a robust product while eventually aligning with their long-term vision of open-source freedom.