SOUL license

SOUL-license (Version 3.0, 2025)

The Shielded Open Use License (SOUL) allows you to freely use, modify, and distribute this software for both commercial and non-commercial purposes—with one important exception. While you're free to use the software commercially in any application or product, if you plan to use it in a service-based model, such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or managed hosting, you will need to obtain a separate commercial license.

This license is designed to protect the creators from commercial exploitation when the software is used as part of a paid service, while still allowing for broad source-available use in general applications, products, and innovations.

Key Features:

• Commercial use is allowed: You can use, modify, and distribute the software in commercial applications and products without any restrictions.
• Service-based use requires a commercial license: If you plan to offer the software as part of a service (e.g., SaaS, hosting, managed services), you must obtain a commercial license.
• Modifications remain open: Any modifications or redistributions of the software must be made available under the same SOUL license, preserving its source-available nature.

License.txt:

"Shielded Open Use License (SOUL)" SOFTWARE LICENSE, Version 3.0, 2025

Copyright (c) [Year], [Your Name or Your Company] Copyright holder contact: [Your Contact Information or Commercial License Inquiries Email]

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit others to whom the Software is provided to do so, subject to the following conditions:

Commercial Use Allowed:
You may use the Software for commercial purposes without obtaining a commercial license, including using it as part of a paid product or service, provided that the Software is not offered as a service (including as Software-as-a-Service, managed hosting, or any service where the Software is made available to third parties for a fee).

Service-Based Use Requires a Commercial License:
If you intend to offer the Software or a modified version of the Software as a service (including Software-as-a-Service, managed hosting, or other similar offerings where the Software is made available to third parties for a fee), you must obtain a commercial license from the copyright holder.

Redistribution:
You may redistribute the Software, either in its original or modified form, provided that it is not used as part of a service (as described above) without obtaining a commercial license. If you distribute modified versions of the Software, your modifications must also be made available under the same terms.

Disclaimer:
The Software is provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. In no event shall the copyright holder be liable for any claim, damages, or other liability arising from the use of the Software.

No copyleft: Independent plugins, themes, or extensions that interact with the Software but do not modify its core codebase are not considered derivative works and are not subject to the terms of this license. Their creators may license them under different terms.

Obtaining a Commercial License:
To obtain a commercial license or for inquiries related to using the Software in a commercial product or service (including SaaS offerings), please contact the copyright holder.

This license is intended to be enforceable worldwide and applies without regard to specific jurisdictions.