[Eric Olson]

I've finally found time to download and look at the State Machine. So far, it looks like it might be a useful framework. I just have a question about the license. The template is copyrighted, which means any VI I use it in becomes a derivative work. The license says that I can use the State Machine:

• for your own internal use, development, testing and evaluation purposes
  
• to copy, modify, create derivative works of, and distribute the JKI Product, through multiple tiers of licensees, only in executable form and only as part of or together with a software or other product developed by you or on your behalf

So as I read this, I can use the State Machine internal to my company in any way that I want, but if I'm going to distribute my VI outside my company, I can only do so in executable form and can not distribute the .vi file itself? If I read that right, that means the State Machine can't be used in any open-source program or even in a small application posted to LAVA?

[Jim Kring]

Hi Eric,

Thanks for this feedback. Our intent for the licensing terms of the JKI State Machine template were as follows:

If you create VIs from the JKI State Machine:

• you are free to distribute VIs that use the template, and
  
• you should have your users download the JKI State Machine package to obtain the support libraries. (While we do make our software freely available, we don't want other people hosting it for download.)

Again, sorry for the confusion. We certainly want this to be a freely available tool for the community to use, and protect our users' rights as well as our own. We'll definitely run your concerns by our legal dept. for review.

Thanks,

-Jim

[Eric Olson]

Jim Kring, on Oct 31 2008, 05:47 PM, said:

We'll definitely run your concerns by our legal dept. for review.

I sort of did the same and there's still some confusion about the legal terms of the license. Even though the main page says that the state machine is a free download, it was pointed out to me that:

However, if the license agreement in your earlier email is indeed the clickwrap agreement that comes with downloading the software, that agreement will be the controlling contract, and the other supplemental information you provided will have no legal effect. The license agreement references that there are License Fees of some sort.

So we're still a bit skittish about incorporating it into our work. Though congratulations on such a nice piece of software and thanks for releasing it.

I thought it might be a good idea to point this out since, if we're having confusion about it, other people elsewhere might be as well.

[dannyt]

Hi Jim,

I downloaded the state machine template a while ago and I am using it in one internal application and am just thinking about it's use in another.

However we are having a tightening up of our use of open source / third party code and I need to check I am fully compliant (legally not just me knowing I am doing what you intended). I suspect this will mean a "Help About" type menu with an acknowledgement to JKI and OpenG in our executable.

Having downloaded it I cannot now find the license terms so could you please place a copy of it in the state machine FAQ section, I sure there may be others who occasionally need to check this type of thing

cheers

Danny

[Jim Kring]

dannyt, on Jul 9 2009, 07:39 AM, said:

Hi Jim,

I downloaded the state machine template a while ago and I am using it in one internal application and am just thinking about it's use in another.

However we are having a tightening up of our use of open source / third party code and I need to check I am fully compliant (legally not just me knowing I am doing what you intended). I suspect this will mean a "Help About" type menu with an acknowledgement to JKI and OpenG in our executable.

Having downloaded it I cannot now find the license terms so could you please place a copy of it in the state machine FAQ section, I sure there may be others who occasionally need to check this type of thing

cheers

Danny

Hi Danny,

The license agreement is here.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

-Jim

[dannyt]

Jim Kring, on Jul 9 2009, 11:27 PM, said:

Hi Danny,

The license agreement is here.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

-Jim

Thanks Jim, sorry I had missed it when looking before but it obvious now you have pointed me at it

danny