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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.
82 lines
6.3 KiB
Plaintext
82 lines
6.3 KiB
Plaintext
---
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title: "License"
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description: "World Monitor licensing terms: AGPL-3.0 for open use, commercial license for business use. Rebranding and commercial forks are prohibited without a license."
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---
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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).
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<Warning>
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**Copying, renaming, or rebranding World Monitor for commercial use is illegal without a commercial license.** Changing the name does not change the license. If you fork this project and use it to make money, you are in violation of the AGPL-3.0 and subject to legal action. See [enforcement](#enforcement) below.
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</Warning>
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## What AGPL-3.0 means
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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.
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| You can | You must | You cannot |
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|---------|----------|------------|
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| View, study, and learn from the source code | Distribute source code with any binary distribution | Use World Monitor commercially without a commercial license |
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| Modify and create derivative works for personal/research use | License derivative works under AGPL-3.0 | Sublicense under a different license |
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| Run a personal instance for non-commercial use | State changes you made to the code | Remove or obscure the original copyright and license notices |
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| Contribute improvements back to the project | Provide source access to users of any public-facing modified deployment | Rebrand and sell as your own product |
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## Rebranding and commercial forks are prohibited
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<Warning>
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Forking World Monitor, changing the name, logo, or branding, and deploying it as your own product is **not permitted** under any circumstances without a commercial license. The AGPL-3.0 requires that:
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1. **You must retain all original copyright notices** in the source code and UI.
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2. **You must prominently state that your version is a modified fork of World Monitor** and link back to the original project.
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3. **You must publish your complete modified source code** under AGPL-3.0, available to all users of your deployment.
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4. **You cannot use this for commercial purposes** without a separate commercial license from the maintainer.
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Renaming the project does not remove these obligations. Removing copyright headers is a separate legal violation.
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</Warning>
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## Commercial use requires a separate license
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**Any commercial use of World Monitor requires a commercial license from the maintainer.** This includes but is not limited to:
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- **Rebranding or white-labeling**: Forking the code, changing the name/logo, and deploying it as your own product or service
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- **Running as a paid product**: Offering World Monitor (or a modified version) behind a paywall, subscription, or any fee
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- **Embedding in commercial products**: Using World Monitor code, components, UI, or data pipelines inside a product you sell
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- **SaaS or consulting**: Offering World Monitor's capabilities as part of a consulting engagement, managed service, or SaaS platform
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- **Internal corporate use**: Using World Monitor inside a for-profit company to generate revenue or competitive advantage
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- **Selling data derived from World Monitor**: Using the platform to collect, process, or resell intelligence data commercially
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The AGPL-3.0 license governs non-commercial, personal, educational, and research use only. If your use case involves any form of commercial activity, you must contact the maintainer to obtain a commercial license.
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**Contact**: [GitHub repository](https://github.com/koala73/worldmonitor) or email the maintainer directly.
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## Enforcement
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The maintainer actively monitors for unauthorized commercial use, rebranding, and license violations. If you are found to be in violation:
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1. You will receive a formal takedown notice requiring immediate cessation of the infringing activity.
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2. If the violation is not resolved promptly, the maintainer reserves the right to pursue legal remedies, including injunctive relief and damages, under applicable copyright law.
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3. AGPL violations are enforceable under international copyright law (Berne Convention), the DMCA, and equivalent statutes in the EU and other jurisdictions.
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If you are aware of an unauthorized commercial fork or rebranded deployment, please report it via [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/koala73/worldmonitor/issues) or contact the maintainer directly.
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## Common scenarios
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**Personal use or research**: Free to use, modify, and self-host. No restrictions beyond AGPL compliance.
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**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.
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**Running a modified public instance (non-commercial)**: You must retain all copyright notices, state that it is a fork of World Monitor, and make your modified source code available to users who interact with your deployment.
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**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.
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**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.
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**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).
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## Why AGPL + Commercial License
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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:
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1. **The community benefits**: Individual researchers, journalists, students, and open-source contributors can freely use and improve the platform.
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2. **Commercial use is sustainable**: Companies that derive commercial value from World Monitor contribute back through licensing fees, which fund continued development.
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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.
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