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Ask HN: Can I keep using the MIT-licensed version of Handontable for my SaaS?
2 points by aparsons on Sept 9, 2020 | hide | past | favorite | 2 comments
In 2017, I made a very niche data-analysis side project with an excel-like UI powered by Handsontable (https://github.com/handsontable/handsontable) which was MIT licensed at the time. A friend in consulting suggested I turn it into a subscription business and I made a modest income from in starting later that year. I had issues with mental health, so I took a lot of time away from tech, and had the friend answer support emails for about a year. During this time, revenue grew modestly but I no longer actively maintained or marketed it.

I recently returned to work / computer related activity and found out that Handontable went from an MIT license to one that requires payment for SAAS use. There's actually a HN thread here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19488642 .

AFAIK, I haven't even run npm update since early 2019 or late 2018. If I continue using the code as is, do I still require a subscription as per the new license? I don't actively plan on maintaining the business unless something breaks (it is a very simple product and paying hosting fees is about as far as my daily involvement goes).

Thank you in advance for you advice - I am really curious on how to resolve this.



The answer you want is "Yes, of course," of course. That's why "AFAIK" prefaces something that would be answered by an audit. But audits aside, the internet isn't a lawyer. Pay one if it's important. If it isn't important, then it isn't important.

In practical terms, a business that can't afford necessary legal advice isn't really viable as an ongoing concern. Good luck.


IANAL, but my understanding is that you can generally keep using the previous version under MIT and any version that was still released under MIT; you just can't update past that to the non-MIT versions without falling into the new SaaS clause.

That said, you should find out how much the payment is and see if you can just pay it; maybe you can negotiate a good deal with the author. They've gotta eat too, right?




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