A new licensing model called “fair source” aims to strike a balance between open-source and proprietary software. This model seeks to avoid the negative connotations associated with the term “proprietary” while still protecting business interests.
The fair source model was developed by Sentry, a software company that specializes in app performance monitoring. According to Chad Whitacre, Sentry’s head of open source, the motivation behind creating this new licensing model is profitability. He believes that open source is a “distribution model,” not a “business model,” making it impractical due to the complexities of various licensing terms.
The fair source model includes key principles such as:
The delayed open-source provision aims to protect commercial interests in the short term, while eventually transitioning to an open-source license. This allows companies to monetize software in the open without fully committing to open source from the outset. The fair source model is not a replacement for open source, but rather a complement to it.
Early Adopters
Several companies have already adopted the fair source model, including GitButler, CodeCrafters, PowerSync, Ptah.sh, and Keygen. However, the ambiguity around what qualifies as “minimal restrictions” remains an open question as the fair source definition evolves.