I have built a JavaScript library that I\'d like to release for free within my u

Question

I have built a JavaScript library that I'd like to release for free within my user community. However I want to keep it under control, and not allow my users to pass it on to others without my permission.

As far as I can tell, a MIT or GPL license won't work for that scenario. What licensing options do I have?

Background: I've had some bad experience in the past where my solutions were used in situations other than the intended purpose, and this triggered maintenance and security issues. I am more careful this time.

Explanation / Answer

You could give each of your users a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use your library, but only for specific purposes which you specify. You could add a clause that they lose the right to use your software, should they violate these terms.

Such license agreements are common in the world of proprietary software (and please don't believe that you software isn't proprietary when you have such restrictive license conditions).

The fact that you don't actually take any money doesn't matter.

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