Licensing and Distributing a CodeIgniter Plugin For Profit

[eluser]Gwarrior[/eluser]
I've worked for many months on a content management system that layers directly over CodeIgniter, spending hundreds of hours perfecting it. Normally I release everything I code to the public, and I can assure you I am not greedy, but with the quality of the product I have created and the time I devoted, I would really like to distribute this 'layer' compiled with CI for a profit.

My question is, since CodeIgniter is open-source, am I able to do this legally? I would assume so, since people also sell third-party modules for ExpressionEngine and the code is open-source after all.

I really appreciate any responses. Thanks!

[eluser]Bart v B[/eluser]
I am not one of the Expression engine guy's but i think you can do that.
If you create a webshop, you can also sale things, they don't charge from your proffit.

Maybe you can work something out like a donation for the hard work.
I think that's more opensource minded then selling a product as a whole product.
Just a brainstorm, when someone is buying your product, then he has the code.
Then he is also beable to sell your product.

Or you must make your product not readeble. Like Zend guard.
Then you have a problem i think, because then it would not be opensource any more.

Hope you understand me, my english is not as good as it was.

[eluser]InsiteFX[/eluser]
Yes you can read terms and license!

InsiteFX

[eluser]wiredesignz[/eluser]
Yes you can legally sell anything you create with CodeIgniter. (Is there a porn site clause?)

Anyway read the CodeIgniter license as InsiteFX says.

[eluser]Bart v B[/eluser]
[quote author="wiredesignz" date="1285344940"]
(Is there a porn site clause?)
[/quote]

:coolsmile:
Code is Code, if it sels flowers or "meat" doen't matter i think. %-P

[eluser]pbreit[/eluser]
Another example is MojoMotor.

I'm not sure I wold distribute it as a "layer on CodeIgniter". Just distribute the whole thing ready-to-use. Perhaps even with an installer.

If you're worried about theft, there are ways to encrypt. But users might prefer the source so they can customize if desired. The people who "steal" it would not have purchased it anyhow.

[eluser]Gwarrior[/eluser]
Thanks for the responses. I did find the terms of CI shortly after posting this, and I too agree that it seems in accordance. What I worry about is my ability to package it to prevent reverse engineering (like Zend Guard) without making it impossible to use CodeIgniter for what it was made for: to code. Is it possible to only target some parts of code and not others?

Or is a good route to put validation and licensing code throughout every page, then trigger a "you have an unlicensed copy" if they try to pirate or steal it. Sure they could remove these blocks of code, but it would be very tedious.

Any thoughts on security definitely welcome!

[eluser]pbreit[/eluser]
It sounds like this might be your first time trying to market some of your software in which case I would suggest not protecting it at all. Go ahead and charge for it (I would suggest letting people download it before paying). Honest people will pay you and dishonest people would not have paid in the first place, so you don't have much to use.

If you find yourself in the rare and delightful situation of a lot of people using your software, then you can revisit the protection. What you want to avoid is disappointing prospective users with closed source and bugs. Also, you need to build some credibility before anyone is going to pay for your software. There are a zillion CMSs, after all.