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docs: add dedicated license page with anti-rebranding and enforcement sections (#1490)

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Extract license content from contributing.mdx into its own first-class
docs/license.mdx page. Add prominent warnings about rebranding/renaming
being prohibited without a commercial license, an enforcement section,
and expanded commercial use restrictions.

Update README.md license section to reflect the dual-license model
(AGPL-3.0 for non-commercial, commercial license required for business
use). Previously it incorrectly stated commercial use was allowed under
AGPL alone.

Update cross-references in documentation.mdx and getting-started.mdx to
point to the new /license page.
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Elie Habib
2026-03-12 14:43:28 +04:00
committed by GitHub
parent 65b2133993
commit e23f1cf85b
6 changed files with 119 additions and 63 deletions
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docs/contributing.mdx
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@@ -183,48 +183,4 @@ PRs that don't follow the code style or introduce security issues will be asked
## License
World Monitor is licensed under the [GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0-only)](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html).
### What AGPL-3.0 means
AGPL is a strong copyleft license designed for network software. It extends the GPL with one additional requirement: if you run a modified version of World Monitor as a publicly accessible service, you must make your source code available to users of that service.
| You can | You must | You cannot |
|---------|----------|------------|
| View, study, and learn from the source code | Distribute source code with any binary distribution | Use World Monitor commercially without a commercial license |
| Modify and create derivative works for personal/research use | License derivative works under AGPL-3.0 | Sublicense under a different license |
| Run a personal instance for non-commercial use | State changes you made to the code | Hold the author liable |
| Contribute improvements back to the project | Provide source access to users of any public-facing modified deployment | Use the project's trademarks without permission |
### Commercial use requires a separate license
**Any commercial use of World Monitor requires a commercial license from the maintainer.** This includes but is not limited to:
- Running World Monitor (or a modified version) as a paid product or service
- Embedding World Monitor code, components, or data pipelines into a commercial product
- Offering World Monitor's capabilities as part of a consulting, SaaS, or managed service
- Using World Monitor internally at a for-profit company to generate revenue or competitive advantage
The AGPL-3.0 license governs non-commercial, personal, educational, and research use. If your use case involves any form of commercial activity, contact the maintainer to obtain a commercial license.
### Common scenarios
**Personal use or research**: Free to use, modify, and self-host. No restrictions beyond AGPL compliance.
**Self-hosting for a non-profit or educational institution**: Permitted under AGPL. If you modify the code and make it publicly accessible, you must share your modifications.
**Running a modified public instance (non-commercial)**: You must make your modified source code available to users who interact with your deployment. The simplest way is to publish your fork on GitHub and link to it from your instance.
**Using World Monitor's public API in your own tool**: If your tool calls World Monitor's public API and displays the results, your tool is not a derivative work. No AGPL obligations apply. However, if your tool is commercial, you must comply with the API terms of service.
**Contributing a pull request**: By submitting a PR, you agree that your contribution is licensed under AGPL-3.0, consistent with the rest of the project.
**Commercial use (any of the above in a for-profit context)**: Requires a separate commercial license. Contact the maintainer at the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/koala73/worldmonitor).
### Why AGPL + Commercial License
World Monitor aggregates publicly available intelligence data and makes it accessible to everyone. The dual-license model (AGPL for open use, commercial license for business use) ensures that:
1. **The community benefits**: Individual researchers, journalists, students, and open-source contributors can freely use and improve the platform.
2. **Commercial use is sustainable**: Companies that derive commercial value from World Monitor contribute back through licensing fees, which fund continued development.
3. **The project stays open**: AGPL prevents a scenario where a commercial entity takes the open-source code, adds proprietary features, and competes with the project without contributing back.
By contributing to World Monitor, you agree that your contributions are licensed under AGPL-3.0. See the [License](/license) page for full terms, commercial licensing, and common scenarios.