docs: clarify dual licensing requirements and App Store restrictions
Make it explicit why dual licensing is NECESSARY (not optional): - App Store and Google Play terms are incompatible with GPL-3.0 - FSF considers App Store distribution a GPL violation - Mobile builds must exclude GPL code for platform compliance Also clarify: - Only copyright holder (KaProblem) can distribute proprietary mobile apps - Third parties cannot distribute GPL apps on app stores (platform restrictions) - Third parties cannot create proprietary versions from this code - Contributors grant dual licensing rights for App Store compliance Updates: - Add 'Why Dual Licensing?' section explaining App Store restrictions - Update copyright holder to KaProblem (https://www.kaproblem.com) - Add App Store compliance context throughout documentation - Clarify that this protects copyright holder's exclusive distribution rights This prevents: - Third parties from releasing proprietary mobile apps - Confusion about why dual licensing exists - GPL violations on app stores 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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# Licensing Strategy
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## Copyright Notice
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Copyright (c) 2024 Stefan (stefan-kp)
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All rights reserved. See license terms below.
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## Overview
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This project uses a **dual licensing approach** based on how the software is built and distributed:
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This project uses a **dual licensing approach** where the copyright holder retains all rights to distribute under multiple licenses:
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- **Source code repository**: GPL-3.0 (open source)
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- **Mobile app distributions**: Proprietary (copyright holder only)
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**Important:** Only the copyright holder (Stefan/stefan-kp) has the right to distribute this software under a proprietary license. All other parties must comply with GPL-3.0 terms.
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### GPL-3.0 License (Web Version)
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@@ -17,18 +28,45 @@ Users can:
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- Bring their own API keys (Gemini)
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- Run locally with client-side Stockfish
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### Proprietary License (Mobile Version)
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### Proprietary License (Mobile Version - Copyright Holder Only)
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The **mobile version** (iOS/Android) does NOT bundle Stockfish.js. Instead, it uses:
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The **copyright holder of the mobile app code using Capacitor** (KaProblem/https://www.kaproblem.com/Github stefan-kp) may distribute mobile versions (iOS/Android) under a proprietary license because these builds do NOT bundle Stockfish.js. Instead, they use:
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- `RemoteEngine` - Makes API calls to a hosted server for chess analysis
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- No GPL code is included in the mobile build
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- Static export with API-only architecture
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Therefore, the mobile app can be distributed under a **proprietary license**:
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The copyright holder may distribute mobile apps under a **proprietary license**:
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- Sold on App Store / Google Play
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- Uses hosted API service
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- No GPL restrictions apply
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- No GPL restrictions apply to copyright holder's builds
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**Third parties CANNOT do this.** If you fork this project, you MUST distribute all versions (including mobile) under GPL-3.0 or obtain explicit permission from the copyright holder.
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## Why This Dual Licensing Approach?
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### App Store Restrictions on GPL Software
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Apple's App Store and Google Play Store have terms that are **incompatible with GPL-3.0**:
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**App Store Issues:**
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- GPL requires users to have the right to modify and redistribute software
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- App Store's DRM and closed distribution model restricts this
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- Apple's developer agreements conflict with GPL's freedom requirements
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- FSF (Free Software Foundation) considers App Store distribution a GPL violation
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**Google Play Issues:**
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- Similar restrictions on modification and redistribution
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- Signed APKs with locked keys conflict with GPL freedoms
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- Platform terms impose additional restrictions beyond GPL
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**Therefore:**
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- We CANNOT distribute GPL-licensed apps on App Store/Google Play
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- Mobile builds MUST use a proprietary license
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- We achieve this by NOT including GPL code (Stockfish.js) in mobile builds
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- Mobile apps use `RemoteEngine` (API calls) instead of `LocalEngine` (GPL)
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This is why the dual licensing approach is **necessary**, not just optional.
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## How This Works
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@@ -68,21 +106,30 @@ class RemoteEngine implements ChessEngine {
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## Legal Compliance
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### GPL Compliance (Web)
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### GPL Compliance (Web & Third Party Distributions)
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The web version complies with GPL-3.0:
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- ✅ Source code is available
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- ✅ GPL license is included
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- ✅ Users can modify and redistribute
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- ✅ Users bring their own API keys (no lock-in)
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All distributions of this software (by anyone other than the copyright holder) must comply with GPL-3.0:
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- ✅ Source code must be available
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- ✅ GPL license must be included
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- ✅ Modifications must be GPL-3.0
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- ✅ This includes mobile app builds by third parties
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### Mobile Compliance
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### Copyright Holder's Proprietary Mobile License
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The mobile version is NOT a derivative work of GPL code:
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- ✅ No Stockfish.js included in build
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- ✅ Uses network API calls (not linking)
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- ✅ Can be licensed separately
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- ✅ Users pay for hosted service
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Only the copyright holder can distribute mobile versions under proprietary terms because:
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- ✅ Copyright holder owns all rights to the code
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- ✅ No Stockfish.js included in mobile builds (no GPL dependency)
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- ✅ Uses network API calls (not GPL linking)
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- ✅ Dual licensing is a copyright holder's privilege
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### Why This Works Legally
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**Dual licensing** is only available to the copyright holder:
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- The copyright holder wrote or received contributions to the code
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- The copyright holder can license their work under ANY terms they choose
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- Third parties receive the code under GPL-3.0 and must comply with those terms
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- Third parties cannot "strip out" GPL code to make proprietary builds (license violation)
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- Only the original author can grant proprietary licenses
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## File Structure
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@@ -108,7 +155,24 @@ chess_tutor/
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### Contributing
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All contributions to the source code repository are subject to **GPL-3.0**.
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By contributing to this repository, you agree that:
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1. Your contributions are licensed under **GPL-3.0**
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2. You grant the copyright holder (Stefan/stefan-kp) the right to use your contributions under any license, including proprietary licenses
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3. This allows the copyright holder to include contributions in proprietary mobile builds
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All contributions to the source code repository are subject to **GPL-3.0** for public use.
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### Third Party Use
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If you fork this project:
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- ✅ You MAY use it under GPL-3.0 terms
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- ✅ You MAY distribute web versions (GPL-3.0)
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- ✅ You MAY modify and redistribute (GPL-3.0)
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- ❌ You CANNOT distribute proprietary mobile apps
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- ❌ You CANNOT remove GPL requirements
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- ❌ You CANNOT claim copyright holder privileges
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Any mobile app you build from this code MUST be distributed under GPL-3.0.
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### Building for Web
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