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I been reading a few things about using libraries and stuff but they all talk about not using it for commercial purposes.

Does commercial mean when you earn money by putting a ad to support you or is it something else like for a big company?

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    asked here Mar 6, 2014 at 14:23
  • While this link does not answer your question, it is a good discussion that is relevant to this topic: meta.programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/6497/…
    – user22815
    Mar 6, 2014 at 14:37
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    It all depends on how the license in question defines "commercial purposes" or "non-commercial". Without knowing which licenses you are referring to, we can't give good advise. (And if we do, that advise might not go further than to talk to a lawyer.) Mar 6, 2014 at 15:58
  • I was thinking about three.js specifically....
    – user122177
    Mar 6, 2014 at 20:56

2 Answers 2

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You note in your comments that you're most interested in three.js, a JavaScript 3-D animation library.

The license file for three.js is the plain MIT License. Examining the history makes it plain that, aside from a brief stint where it was released via GPL 3.0, the license has been MIT since the project began. Neither the MIT license nor the GPL prohibit commercial use, although the latter does require you to distribute source code to any users of your software who request it.

Are you thinking of some other library?


In general, software publishers who mark software "not for commercial use" really should spell out what they mean, even if it's only by referencing a particular law's definition. Especially since Creative Commons is a thing now.

FWIW, even Creative Commons has had problems with their "commercial use" definition. They even commissioned a study, and found a rather clear lack of consensus. And that ambiguity is precisely what you don't want as a licensor, or even really a licensee.

If you encounter a "no commercial use" clause in a library you want to use, you can either contact the maintainer and ask about your specific use, or decide to be mean and just plow ahead with what you think you could convince a judge a reasonable person might interpret as "no commerical use." (no points for guessing which one is the wiser move.)

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    FYI (but IANAL): Creative Commons license is NOT meant for software. Mar 11, 2014 at 19:56
  • I just wanted to make a 3d game using three.js in which i can place a ad on the loading screen to earn a little bit of money...
    – user122177
    Mar 11, 2014 at 20:56
  • If you're not confident after reading the license, contact the project maintainer.
    – DougM
    Mar 11, 2014 at 21:29
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Commercial (in very general terms) refers to monetizing their software for your use. Example, you use one of the libraries that is designated for NON-commercial use, you would not be able to sell the application or make any kind of money off of it in anyways. Possibly, this extends to your website if it is ad supported as well. However, you would be able to use their libraries/software for personal use or open-source projects as long as you aren't trying to sell it.

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  • The key is whether the library is included in an application or other bundle for which one is charging money. I do not believe an ad supported web site would be a factor, but if e.g. it were an e-commerce site using a non-commercial web library that might be an issue. To be sure, one should consult with a lawyer who specializes in IP before making any decisions.
    – user22815
    Mar 6, 2014 at 14:36
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    It all depends on the exact license terms how "non-commercial" should be interpreted. When it comes to licenses (and other legal documents), general terms are generally incorrect. Mar 6, 2014 at 16:00
  • I was thinking about three.js specifically....
    – user122177
    Mar 6, 2014 at 20:56
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    Is using the library on site that markets your product commercial? Sells the product? Personal website of a consultant who has a "how to hire me?" As part of a free (gratis) product created by a commercial company? that has non-gratis plugins? used someone doing something free that is in competition with non-free products? Its not a simple question to answer - and any correct answer likely involves lawyers.
    – user40980
    Mar 11, 2014 at 18:20
  • @Jack -- do you have a legal source for that, or are you just making an assumption?
    – DougM
    Mar 11, 2014 at 18:31

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