Selecting the correct software licence suited to my needs?

Question

I have a few applications that I will be uploading to CodePlex in the very near future.

Anybody is free to look at the source code and use it in their own applications but all I ask is that I am recognised as the original developer of the code and that it cannot be used in any commercial application without my permission.

I have looked at Jeff's overview of licences but i'm still a bit confused as to which licence is best suited for my requirements.

There may be a time where I wish the code to only be used with my permission only, is it possible to change the terms of the licence after the code has been published?

Thanks

Answer 1

When you add a project to codeplex it will let you choose a license. Infact you wont be able to publish without choosing a license for you project. Best thing would be to read through every license listed and choose the best.

I always choose the Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL)

Answer 2

As far as I know, there isn't a license barring commercial usage; even the super-strict GPL lets derivatives be sold.

Although it's not recommended for software, I might go with a Creative Commons license in this situation, specifically the Attribution-Noncommercial license (here's a license with U.K. as the jurisdiction).

This license will require people give credit to you, while giving them the freedom to use it for a noncommercial project. It also has a clause allowing people to ask for your permission to override the license (i.e. use commercially).

Answer 3

is it possible to change the terms of the licence after the code has been published?

This is a subject of some debate, but the consensus seems to be that you cannot revoke a license. In other words, if you change or add licences, the users who obtained and use your work under the original license are not affected.